THE LATE MURDER AT ORMONDVILLE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1140, 16 February 1884, Page 3

THE LATE MURDER AT ORMONDVILLE.

Edwards was bro.ight up at the Resident Magistrate's Court at Ormondville on Thursday, and was committed for trial on a change of murdering his wife and family. On the same day he made the following statement in the presence of a newspaper reporter :—I had very little sleep for fnur nights before the murder. I was all right on Sunday, but towards the evening I got strange fancies in my head. I fancied I heard a crowd of people outside the house threatening to burn me and my family alive. I then got the piece of firewood and got it ready to defend myself and family. I waited some time for them to come. My wife wnted me to go for Constable Shelly, and asked me to go myself as she was sure that he would stop with us for the night if asked to do so, but I was afraid of going myself or of letting her go, on ace Hint of the fancies in my head and the voices I heard outsids. After a time I got better, and told her that I thought I would be all right. She put the piece of wood in the fire, but I heard them coming again and took it off and put it beside me and watched the door. My wife went in and out cf the bedroom at different times, and laid down with exhaustion, as she had had but very little sleep for five nights. All at once I heard a whole crowd outside singing out that they were going to burn us all alive. I jumped up and went into the bedroom, and knocked mv wife senseless with the piece of wood and then the children. I did this so that they should not feel the pain when I was cutting their throats ; I could not staod to see them burned alive. I then cut my own throat, but the knife being blunt, I could not finish it, as I heard them coming, and I cradled under the big bed out of their road. I lay there some time, and then heard them on the back of the house. I got out in the garden behind a tree, but they would not leave me. I then ran across the paddock towards Plank's but they followed me. I left there and went to Pyke's but I heard them again, and slid under the bridge, as I thought they would not follow me there. When I told Plank I would not be taken I did not think of Constable Shelly or the other police. I was speaking of the crowd around me. I believe I wdl be hang for it. I deserve it, and I hope they won't keep me long. I went to meet my wife and family. I think I will go to the same place as they have, as they will forgive me.