AUSTRALIAN NEWS. Shocking Murder Liverpool, New South Wales. A LUNATIC THROWS HIS MOTHER DOWN A WELL.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 224, 15 October 1887, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Shocking Murde r Liverpool, New South Wales. A LUNATIC THROWS HIS MOTHER DOWN A WELL.

On Thuriky! afternoon, a young man, apparently between' 2o and 30 years of ago t entered No. 2 Police-station, Sydney, in an ex&ted- state, and said he desired, to give luraeelf up to the police, as ho had lulled his m?thcr. His statement at iirst was nob believed, but he insibtcd upon the tru& of his story, and stated to Constable Davies and Senior-constable Elliott that l»»s name was August Wells ; that he lvad been living for some m onths pa&t on a farm between Banksfcown and Liverpool, and «hat he had thrown his inothei* down .the well. The man who is a German, wastafcen toNol Police-station and locked up. He is of medium height, sallow «omplexion f with fair whiskers, gave unmistakable signs of lunacy. In tact, in the cell he was violent and talked incessantly in -a most inoomprelieusible manner. Ttwasaseertainedyestorday thatlusstatement was in the main correct, as tins unfortunate woman's body was discovered in a well 20ft deep, with 3ft of wator in it, in the locality mentioned. There were feigns of a struggle in the vicinity, <»s portions of the fence between the house and the -well were broken down, -apparently oi recent occurrence. Wells was continod an the Central Station -when he was transferred, -secured in handcuffs and "-muff's," to Li\ei;pool, where an inquest was -subsequently 'held, at which a verdict of wilful murder was recorded against him. The prisoner was then committed to -take his trial at the next Criminal Court. He was afterwards brought back to Sydney -and lodged -in the cellb at Darlinghttrsk It would be almost, to con--ceive of a more horrible ■ tragedy than that which was iperpefcrated^eai Tiiursday morning near Liverpool. -AJ! the attendant circumstances, as far as they are known or ©anbesur-mised, were of a most revolting character. The one great feature of the «ase -which throws around it an _ addi-tional-glamoui of .terrible interest is the <&eadful mystery surrounding the whole »ffaic,>ov;ing to the- lives of almost complete isolation led by the-ill-fated -victim and her anurderer. We have no lion or-stricken eye■wifcness.to the crime— no one even to testify 4o haviwg heard the -screams of the poor old hardworking woman as she quailed, with the dews of -deathly terror on her face, under *he frenzied eyes and the murderous grip «f.tbe -son to whom she had given birth. Imagination fail& when one tiies to speculate on.the feelings of tb©>devoted mother when ■ehe-sa-w — -as there i&ie*ery rcabon to believe jshemiMst. have seen— the gradual approach fit of ins-anity which wat fated to compass her death. Then we must picture ;the hurried flight — away from horne — .away from the worse than solitude in the of him from whom all -reason, and soul had iled — away anyso that she.. might mingle in the Ibaunteof man,andbreMhe the piotectingair •of. human society, lint not far did she fly. With, the cunning of & madman he dhined Jher purpose, with the/fury of a madman at .ibe possible loss of hi--> victim he bounded .after. hoi", and with the strength of a mad .man overpowered her- diagged her back .and flung her, half -dc rid with terror, into tbe'deep well, where- could he have kept his -jsecret, she migibt have lain undis-veover-ed for months. Then, no doubt, .■with an exulting chuckle as he heard the horrid splash which told him he .hod done his foul woik only too well, he, pulled himself together with wonder-ful-eclf command, assuired an appearance of vanity, left the scene X'f his crime, passed through Liverpool without attracting .cspecisi attention, and took the train to Sydney, where lived his -(relations. Here he .accused himself of the.c.-ime and insibted <t>n being arrested. Later on. however, his temporary calmness deserted him, and he .became furious and violet < Now he lies in 4gaol awiting trial.