THE WILLIAMS MURDERS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4068, 21 March 1892, Page 2

THE WILLIAMS MURDERS.

Idontiflo&tion oJtbo Mimt ! RatoWn. Further DOUU9 of too lforderer'3 Boinjs. London, March 17, After the mutder of his wife and four cbi'tli'eu at Denbam Villa, in Lancashire, Deetniog visited his sislei-in-law, nnd on ber enquiring for his wife and family, he stated than tVey were .at Brighton, and, avoiding to -tbe last Jutter he bad received, weie well and happy, Bpfo;*© leaving Rainbill for Austria, Williams sent a heavy box by irl to Plymouth, He gave the railway officials fie name of Wilson, stating that bi3 address wss Prescott, a town eight miles from Liverp. jl. Some ques : ion arose willi regard to the carriage of the box, and the Rai'way Department wrote to Wilson, but the letter, which had been addressed to Mr Peesoott, was returned by the Dead.Letter Office. The police are now. trying to trace the box, The inquest on the remains of the woman and children opens at Rainhil to-morrow, In tbo courao of otber enquiries the police liave found out that a patser-by he-rd screams issuing from Denbam Villa on the 10th August, and it is now thought this was the date on which the murder was committed,

The police dug up the floor' in tbe pant-y to>day, and also explored other rooms ia the house, hit no oilier bodies were discovered,

Deeming has eight brothers and two sisters, On his way home from Australia in 1800 be s.opped for some' time at tbo Gape, and purchased a lion, which be brought on to 'Liverpool. His wedding with Miss May Matbeson was celebrated with considerable dispiay, but many of the girl's neighbours and friends did not like the look of iho man, and we.'a inclined to regard him as a pretender and a- fraud. The honeymoon was spent at tbe Station Ho.ol in Hull. He obtained a large quantity of jewellery from Mr Roynoldsoo, a jewel'er at Hull, but did not pay for it immediately. As soon as Reynoldson learnt that Williams (or Lawson as he was then called] had decamped after tbe honeymoon he issued a wa-rant for bis arrest, Tbe trial took placo in Hull in October, 1890. While he was serving his sentence the police wero communioated with vega-ding his past caiee-, with the result that it was discovered be had married tbe woman Mary James at Birkenhead, in February, 1881, and that the issue ot the marriage was four children, it was at fi>st the Intention of Miss Matbeson's friends to proceed against Lawain for bigamy as soon as he gained bis freedom, but tbe action bad to be abandoned owing to some legal difficulties that barred tbe way. Lawson was released from Hull Gaol on July 16th, Failing to re-es;abM his relations with the girl he had duped into an illegal marriage, he went to Rainhill. Deemiog's brother viewed the bodies of tbe murdered woman and children ac Rainhill, and identified tbe remsins as those of his brother's wife and family. The woman's sister has also identified the remains. The landlord of the Commercial Hotel says that lio saw Williams after he had spent two nights at Denham Villa, and he noticed that his coat was bespattered with blood. This was about the time Williams is sup., posed to bnvo committed the deed. It appears that after Williams was maniedto Miss Mather he took his brtfe to Denbam Villa, and danoed and sang over tbo gravo of his victims,

The police ate now looking for nurie who attended bis wife.

The Daily News says thai the chloride of lime used by Williams, which wag intended to dc3iroy the bodies ot hia viptjms, had the contrary effect, and preserved them as evidence against bp.

The Standard calls hitp qne of the most audacious and crUel scoundrels of modern times.

The theory that Williams is Jack the Eipper is negatived by many of the dates on which the crimes were committed.

It appears that the pantry .'ai Denbam Yilla has ! eeu cemented since the murder, to avoid a smel which had bean noticed,

Deeming inspected several houses at Eainbill about which there was a clause in the agreements giving permission to cement the floors,

. It is believed that the boxes sent to Plymouth contain the clothes and the earth which was removed from tinder the floor. A box of clothes has been found at Falmouth, sojjje of the garments in which are stamecl with blood, The inquest has been ndjourqed. It is supposed that Williams' first wife wishing to stop his relations with another woman, insisted on leaving Birkenhead for Eainhiil, and there* upon to murdered in order to leave him free to continue his courtship with Miss Mather. absences; from ?Bainkill werecausei by visits to his family at Birkenhead, and not by journeys to London as at fivsj; supposed. Further startlinr; ; d'solosures are expected as the inquest goes on.> Perth, March 19! : Williams arrived at Perth in custody

yesterday. -When 'airrested he declared his innocence, mainliinitig that bis name war {SwaosbriV not 'Williams. The policoj however, have secured large quaniiiiea.of SwansonV effects inii'uding photographs and correspondence, wbiohitis understood establish bis iden-i'jy. Dating the journey to York, Williams °ie and slept little, and fainted twic9, but maintained a cheerful appearance. He spoke confidently of his ability to prove his innocence. At the ?ork railway station headdressed a orowd, te"'ng tbem ha -was perfectly innocent but had been vic« tim'sed by \Vomeo. At Penh thousands of people were in waiting for his arrival. The prisoner looked travel-worn and anxious, but put on an air o; bravado. ..