THE ORMONDVILLE TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 65, 15 February 1884, Page 3

THE ORMONDVILLE TRAGEDY.

The Murderer's Confession. Suffering From Delirium Tremens. A Ghastly UTarrative. ! ' (by telegraph . ) (united press association.) " Napier, February 14. Edwards was brought up at the Resident Magistrate's, Court, at Ormondville to-day, and committed for trial on the charge of: murdering his wife and family. Yesterday he made the following statement m presence of the Herald's reporter. The crowds referred to are, of course, the creation of his diseased imagination : — " I had very little sleep for four nights before the murders. I was? all right on, Sunday, but towards the evening 1 got strong fancies iv my head. I fancied I heard a crowd of people outside the house threatening to burn me and hiy' family alive. I then got the piece of firewood, arid got it ready to defend mysolf and family.' I waited somo time for them. My wife wanted me to go for Constable Shultz, and asked me to go inyself,as she was sure that he would stop< with usfor the night if I asked him, but I was afraid of going myself or of letting her go, on account of the fancies m my head, and the voices I heard outside previously. I gob bcttrr and told her that I thought I woiiM be all ,right. She put the piece of wood m the fire, but I heard them coming again, and I took it oft and put it beside me and watched the door. My wife went m aiid out of the bedroom at different times, and lay down v ith exhaustion, ns she had very little Bleep for five nights. AH at once I heard: a whole crowd outside ; singing out thsit they were going to burn us all alive. I ju.inped< Up, went into, , the bedroom, and. knocked my wife senseless with the piece of wood and then the children. 1 did this that they should nbt feel the ! pain when I was cutting their throats. I could not stand to see them burned alive. I then cut, my flwn throat,.,but the knife being 'blunt I could not finish it' as I heard them coming, and I .crawled under the bed out o 1 ? the winy. I lay there some time., I then heard them at the. back of the house* and I hid' behind a tree but they wbuf4 not leave me. I then.ran across jbhe ;paddock towards, Plank's,' but? they 'followed .me. jl Jefc them ( and went to dyke's, but- I heard them again and slid, under the bridge, as I thought they would not follow me theiu . Wtim I told Bank I would not be taken I did not think of you (Constable Schultz) or the police, j I was speaking of the the crowd around me. I believe I -will be hung for it ; 1 defeierve to. I hope they won't keep me long. I want to meet my wife and family. I think I will. go. to the same place as* they have, as they will forgive ,m<J.":, • ,•:', - : ■ >• >.'■■■. '