MURDER BY A LUNATIC.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1643, 6 October 1887, Page 3

MURDER BY A LUNATIC.

Sydney, Sept. 24. On Thursday afternoon a young man, apparently between twenty and thirty years of age, entered No. 2 Police Station, Sydney, in an excited state, and said he desired to give himself up to the police, as he had killed his mother. His statement at first was not believed, but he insisted upon the truth of his story, and stated to Constable Davies and Senior-constable Elliott that his name was August Wells; that he had been living for some months past on a farm between Banketown and Liverpool, and that he had thrown his mother down a well. The man, who is a Herman, was taken to No. 1 Police Station and locked up. He is of medium height, sallow complexion, with fair whiskers, and gave unmistakeable signs of lunacy. In fact, in the cell he was violent and talked incessantly in a most incomprehensible manner. It was ascertained yesterday that his statement was in the main correct, as the unfortunate woman’s body was discovered in a well 20ft deep, with 3ft of water in it, in the locality mentioned. There were signs of a struggle in the vicinity, as portions of the fence between the house and the well were broken down, apparently of recent occurrence. Wells was confined in the Central Station until about noon yesterday, when he was transferred, secured in handcuffs and “ muffs,” to Liverpool, where an inquest was subsequently held, at which a verdict of wilful murder was recorded against him. The prisoner was thereupon committed to take take his trial at the next Criminal Court.