The Napier Tragedy.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4715, 16 February 1884, Page 3

The Napier Tragedy.

STATEMENT BY THE MURDJSEEB,; Napiee, Yesterday. ; Edwards was brought up att? eßesideiil Magistrate's Court, at Ormondville, and committed for tilal on llie charge of murderinp his wife ar d family. He made th> following statement. The crowds referred to Bre of course the creation of a disease d imagination :—" I had very lil tie sleep f.T four nights before the murder. I was all right on Sunday, but towards evening I j got strange fancies in my head. I fancier j I heard a crowd of people outside the hou<e threatening to barn me and my family alire. 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 wanted to go for Constable Shu^z and asked me to go myself, as she was sure 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 account ofthe fancies in my head of the roices 1 heard outside previously. 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 out of the bedroom at different times, and laid down with exhaustion, as. she had had ?ery little sleep for five nights. AH 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 my wife senseless with a piece of wood, and then the children. I did this that they Bbould not feel the pain when L>was cutting their throats. I could not see them burned alive. I then cut my own throat, bui the knife being blunt, I could not finish it, as I heard them coming, and I crawled under the big bed out of their road. I lay there some time. I then heard them on the back of the house. I got out in the garden, and hid behind a tree, but they would not leave me. : , I then, ran across the paddock towards Flank's, but they followed me. I left them and went to Pyke's, but I heard them again, and slid under the bridge, as I thought they wonld follow me there. When I told Plank I would not be taken, I did not think of jou (Constable Shulz) or the police. I was speaking of tie crowd around me. I beliere I will be hung for it. I defcire it. I hope they won't keep me long. I want to meet my wife and famiiy. I think I will go to the samo place as they hare, as they will forgive me." .