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THE TRIAL IN MELBOURNE.  
REMARKABLE STATEMENT BY THE
PRISONER.
HE IMPLIES THAT EMILY MATHER
WAS AN ACCOMPLICE IN THE
RAINHILL MURDERS.
A VERDICT OF GUILTY.
THE PRISONER ADDRESSES THE
COURT.
DEEMING IN PRISON.
HE CHANGES HIS DEMEANOUR.
HE IS PROMPTED TO KILL
MISS ROUNSEFELL.
STILL HOPES FOR LIFE.
[BY TELEGRAPH.]
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
MELBOURNE, April 29.
At the trial of Deeming, yesterday, after
the other witnesses had repeated their evid-
ence previously given at the inquest, as to the
identity of the prisoner, the Court ad-
journed till next morning.
LATER.
The trial of Deeming was resumed punc-
tually this morning. The interest evinced
was as great as on the previous day. A large
number of ladies were present. The Court
proceeded without delay with the evidences.
The prisoner's demeanour was serious and
nervous. On being supplied with writing
material, he engaged himself in writing.
John Featherstone, carrier, repeated the
evidence given by him at the inquest, relative
to the carriage of goods to the house at
Windsor, under engagement to the prisoner,
on December 18th.
Mr. Forlonge cross-examined the witness
with regard to his identification of the body
of the murdered woman, and the identifica-
tion of the prisoner prior to the inquest. He
did not, however, succeed in shaking the
witness's testimony to Mr. Walsh, the Crown
Prosecutor, that he had no doubt that the
prisoner was the man for whom he carried
the goods.
Mr. McGillicuddy produced plans of the
house at Windsor, where the murder was
committed.
Alfred Spedding rehearsed the evidence
previously given by him at the inquest, as
to having seen the prisoner at the house at
Windsor, and as to having found a card in
the fireplace.
Jenny Spedding also repeated her evidence,
that she had seen the prisoner working in the
garden of the Windsor house.
Alexander McNaughton, butcher, repeated
his evidence, with regard to having stayed at
the house of his sister, Mrs. Spedding, next
to the house at Windsor, on the night of
December 24 or 26. At one o'clock in the
morning he said he was awakened by a noise,
as of a plumber making a hole through the
wall. The sound lasted about three hours ;
till about 7 o'clock.
J. T. Webb, bookseller at St. Kilda, also
recapitulated tbe evidence of the latter wit-
ness, detailing how he saw a woman coming
out of the Windsor house on the evening of
December 23rd or 24th.
Mr. Forlonge cross-examined this witness
without shaking his evidence.
Martha Büeller and Ernest Büeller, of the
laundry at Windsor, gave evidence as to the
prisoner giving a quantity of articles for
washing. The testimony of the latter witness
was not shaken by cross-examination relative
to his identification of the prisoner.
Hannah McDonald, who took the goods
from the laundry to the Windsor house,
identified the prisoner as the man to whom
she gave the goods.
Thomas Lambert, the labourer who assisted
the prisoner to remove the goods from the
house at Windsor early in January, repeated
his testimony, as also did Lucy Colgate and
John Colgate, regarding the prisoner's visit
to the Criterion Hotel, Sale, about the end of
December.
E. Downes of the Melbourne Tramway Co.,
stated that the prisoner was never in the
employ of the Co.
Mrs. Thompson, licensee of the Cathedral
Hotel, repeated her testimony as to the
prisoner's staying at the hotel under the
name of Duncan.
J. Holt, matrimonial agent, repeated his
former evidence.
Mr. Kemp, estate agent, again gave evi-
dence as to letting a shop in Little Collins
street early in January, to the prisoner, who
gave the name of Dawson.
C. J. McColl and Brand Willis, clerks to
Beauchamp Bros., rehearsed the particulars of
the sale of the prisoners goods at the shop in
Little Collins-street.
H. Willmott, dealer, repeated his evidence
as to his purchase of a spade and other
articles at the auction sale of Williams's
goods.
Mr. Solomon, dealer, repeated his evidence
as to attending the sale, where he saw the
prisoner, and after the sale purchased the
cage and canary from him for £3.
Mr. Vivian, salesman to Kilpatrick & Co.,
jewellers, repeated his evidence relative to
the prisoner's jewellery transaction with him,
about the end of December. The prisoner
gave the name of Dawson.
E. F. Smith, accountant, repeated his evi-
dence as to his conversation with the prisoner,
who gave the name of Dawson.
S. Farrell, of the Bank of Australasia, re-
peated the evidence with reference to the
prisoner's account at the Bank, and identified
the signatures on the prisoner's cheques as
being the same as the signatures in the Bank
signature book.
E. Schah, sub-manager of the Bank, gave
expert's evidence as to the handwriting, and
the cheques signed by Dawson and the signa-
tures to the prisoner's letters to Miss Roun-
sefell. He also said that other letters were
by the same writer, and the address on the
ticket " L. Dobbs, railway station, Bairns-
dale," were by the same writer.
George Leach, salesman in the employ of
McLean Bros. and Rigg, repeated his evi-
dence relative to the purchase of tools from
the prisoner, who gave the name of Dawson.
Kate Rounsefell detailed the circumstances
under which she met the prisoner, who gave
the name of Baron Swanston.
D. Dowdell, booking clerk to the Adelaide
Steamship Company, repeated his evidence
relative to the prisoner booking a saloon
passage from Sydney to Albany.
Police evidence was given of the discovery
of the murdered woman's body.
David Curran, clerk at the Princess Bridge
railway station, stated that on January 8th
he consigned a box to Bairnsdale.
David Enright, station master at Bairns-
dale, stated that he received the box pro-
duced, consigned by the previous witness.
No one called for it, and acting under in
structions he returned it to Melbourne this
month.
Max Hirschfeldt repeated the evidence
given by him at the inquest.
Constable Williams, of Western Australia,
detailed the circumstances of the prisoner's
arrest at Southern Cross.
The Court adjourned until 10 o'clock on
Saturday morning.
MELBOURNE, April 29.
Probably fully twenty more witnesses will
be called in the case, and though the hope
has been expressed that the trial will be
finished to-morrow, it is not generally con-
sidered that the wish will be realised. Re-
garding the prisoner's defence, it has become
evident to-day, that besides attacking, to
some extent, the evidence of the witnesses
who identify the prisoner, Mr. Deakin and Mr.
Forlonge will strongly press the theory of
insanity, and lay special stress upon the fits
which seized the prisoner on his journey from
Perth to Albany. Both the doctors who on
Thursday, withdrew from the case, have been
subpœnaed so that medical testimony, pos-
sibly of some length, is certain to be heard.
It is stated in some quarters that the prisoner
intends to give evidence on his own behalf
which he can do under the recent Act.
MELBOURNE, April 30.
The trial of Deeming was resumed at ten
this morning. There was a slightly smaller
attendance at the opening than on the pre-
vious days, but it rapidly improved until the
Court filled.
The first witness was Detective Cawsey,
who repeated the substance of his previous
evidence. The witness produced and identi-
fied a number of articles which had been
found amongst the effects in the possession
of the prisoner, also the goods found in the
trunk at Bairnsdale bearing marks corres-
ponding with the marks on goods in prisoner's
possession.
Detective Smyth, of Western Australia,
gave similar evidence to that he had pre-
viously given at the inquest.
Albert E. Gunnaald repeated his evidenoe
with respect to his having known the prisoner
at Rockhampton and Sydney, in 1883 and
1884, as Frederick Bayley Deeming.
Dr. Morrison repeated the medical par-
ticulars he had given before. The prisoner
during this maintained a subdued demeanour,
his face indicating great anxiety. He was
frequently engaged in writing.
Dr. Mullen, who had heard the previous
witness's evidence, and agreed with it, was
cross-examined at great length on the ques-
tion of insanity.
Constable Davidson gave evidence of the
body of the murdered woman having lain at
the Morgue.
Dr. Rudolph, specialist in diseases of the
eye, stated he had examined the prisoner's
eyes, and found no necessity for his using
spectacles. There were no symptoms what-
ever, the witness said, of brain disease, so
far as the prisoner's eyes were concerned.
There were scars on his head, but no indica-
tion of any fracture caused thereby, or of
injury to the bone.
Dr. Shields, examined by Mr. Deakin,
gave evidence of his frequent examinations
of the prisoner at times with one or more
other medical men. He had also made an
examination of the prisoner by himself, but
other medical men could be present whenever
he examined the prisoner. He would swear
it was his opinion that the prisoner was
not insane. He had tested the prisoner in
every way he could think of, but could not
lay his finger upon any one point indicating
insanity. The prisoner had stated to him
that his wife was not dead but away with
another man, whose name, witness believed,
he said was Hughes, and that prisoner had
seen her with that man on December 29.
The prisoner's standard of morality, as
expressed by himself, was, witness said, very
low, but he believed on every occasion, the
prisoner knew right from wrong, as well as
witness himself did.
Dr. Dick, Inspector of Lunatic Asylums,
was examined as an expert in insanity. He
stated he had seen the prisoner five times, and
tested him in various ways, but failed to
detect any signs of insanity. In cross
examination, witness said he would classify
the prisoner as an " instinctive " criminal
and not as responsible as an average man
for what he did, but more responsible than a
child. He thought the prisoner had tried to
deceive him by feigning insanity. He did
not believe the prisoner's statement about
seeing the apparition of his dead mother.
Dr. Jamieson, an expert in insanity, had
examined the prisoner upon four different
occasions, and could not find any trace of
insanity.
The medical witnesses were severely cross-
examined by Mr. Deakin in his endeavour
to shake their testimony and prove that the
prisoner was not responsible for his actions.
The Court adjourned until ten o'clock on
Monday.
MELBOURNE, May 2.
The trial of Albert Williams for the
murder of his wife, was resumed this morn-
ing. The Court was crowded, public interest
evidently being greatly accentuated by the
expectation that this would be the last day
of the trial. The prisoner presented an
extremely dejected appearance, his demeanour
betraying the intense anxiety he felt.
Mr. Deakin called the following evidence
for the defence :—
David Symonds, a reporter on the Argus,
who stated he was on board the train in the
same compartment with the prisoner, on his
way from Perth to Albany. Mr. Symonds
gave evidence relative to the alleged fits the
prisoner had on the journey.
Dr. Springthorpe gave particulars of state-
ments made by the prisoner during his exam-
ination by the medical men, in gaol. The
prisoner's account of the Rainhill murder,
according to this witness, was that he went
to Rainhill and saw Dinham Villa, which he
decided to take, engaging a man named Old-
ben to carry out certain repairs. The prisoner's
wife came down, but he would not go near
her. Oldben told him that if he would give
her £50, she would go away. He then gave
Oldben £50, and never saw his wife again,
but he helped to send her luggage away. After
detailing his engagement and marriage with
Miss Mather, he said that when nearing Adelaide
his wife told him that she was not his wife,
and that she had a husband in Australia
named Hughey Hughes. She said she met
Hughes in Melbourne, near the Cathedral.
He (prisoner) and she then agreed to sepa-
rate. He said the reason she kept out of
the way was because of the discovery of the
Rainhill murder, as she was afraid that if
she appeared she wonld be arrested as an
accomplice. As in his former evidence, Dr.
Springthorpe declined to say the prisoner
was insane, but he thought the probability
was that he was suffering from some form
of brain disease. To enable him to give com-
plete opinion he would require more time to
study the case.
Dr. Fishborne gave corroborative evidence.
In answer to His Honour, he said that, as-
suming that the prisoner purchased the
cement eight or nine days beforehand with
the intention of committing this murder, and
was acting under the overwhelming influence
of his instinctive desire to commit murder,
he could stay his hand till such time as he
saw fit. This closed the evidence for the
defence.
After luncheon, Mr. Deakin began his
address to the jury. He pointed out that no
person saw the murder done. The Crown
had signally failed to prove the occupation of
the premises by the prisoner and his wife
during the period at issue, that from about
the 7th of December to the 24th, 25th or
26th. No proof had been given of the furni-
ture, bedding, or cooking utensils, or any
necessaries of life having been taken there.
How, too, could two people live there and not
escape the observation of their neighbours?
That part of the case, he thought, broke down
altogether. He then proceeded to endeavour
to discredit the identification of the deoeaaed
by the witnesses ; and, proceeding, passed on
to the question of insanity, and the irrespon-
sibility of criminals. The case is not likely
to conclude till late, if it should conclude
to-night. There are manifestations of
the great interest taken in the trial
in the collection of the crowd in
Lonsdale-street, who, feeling the end of
the trial approaching, are anxiously awaiting
the result. Their yellings stopped the be-
ginning of Mr. Deakin's address, and several
times since they have been so marked as to
amount almost to an interruption of the pro-
ceedings.
MELBOURNE, May 3.
At the trial of Deeming yesterday, Mr.
Walsh, Q.C., having replied for the prosecu-
tion, the prisoner then, by permission of the
Judge, addressed the jury at great length.
He complained that he had not had a fair
trial, his case having been prejudiced by the
Press and the public all over the world. He
complained that the mode of identification
adopted was unjust to him, that the witnesses
had sworn false evidence, and that many of
them he had never seen, and could swear
they had never seen him. All he asked for
was fairness, and if their verdict should be
guilty he would ask His Honour not to make
a long address to him. He did not mean any
disrespect to His Honour, but he would feel
easier if his request were complied with.
Mr. Justice Hodges then summed up the
evidence. After stating that the first ques-
tion the jury had to consider was : Did the
prisoner of malice aforethought murder
Emily Williams on or about December
24, he proceeded to point out the strong
direct evidence that the prisoner and his
wife came out together in the Kaiser Wilhelm
II. ; that the prisoner took a house at
Windsor; that he purchased cement, etc.;
that his wife was seen in the house with him,
and that the body was afterwards found
under the hearthstone and identified by four
witnesses as that of Emily Williams. The
question then arose as to who murdered her,
and the evidence on that point was very

conclusive. With regard to the question of
insanity, he asked them to say whether their
opinion was that the prisoner was sane when
he committed the murder, and whether he
was sane at present.

The jury retired at half-past seven, and
returned into court shortly afterwards with
a verdict of " guilty," finding, in answer to

his Honour's questions, that the prisoner was

sane when he committed the murder, and
that he was sane now.

The prisoner received the verdict without
any sign of emotion and delivered a brief ad-
dress, which was a repetition of his former
statement. He asserted his innocence, de-
claring that he had not received fair trial, since
it was impossible that the jury should be of
a different opinion to the general public. He
blamed the newspapers for prejudicing the
case and he declared that he would not be
dead long before his real name and his inno-
cence would be known. He thought it
better for the law to destroy him than for
him to destroy himself, since, even if he had
been acquitted he would not have lived a
single day. He had a happy feeling that he
was innocent. There was only one thing
that would have gladdened him. That was if
he could have heard from Miss Rounsefell
that she believed him innocent, even if the
whole of the public thought him guilty. He
appealed to the Judge to make no address
when passing sentenoe, as it would only be a
waste of time.

His Honour complied with the prisoner's
request, and passed sentence of death in a
few words.

The prisoner, who was apparently unmoved
was then taken to the cells, and thc Court

rose.

MELBOURNE, May 3.

Deeming, on returning to gaol last night,

was dressed in convict's clothes. He was

also heavily ironed, and placed in one of the
condemned cells close to the gallows. His
case will be considered at a meeting of the
Executive on Monday. The date of the
execution will be fixed, probably, for Monday,
the 18th.

MELBOURNE, May 4.

The condemned man Deeming has changed

his attitude. The audacity which has char-

acterised him up till now has disappeared.
With the change to prison dress he appeared
to feel his position keenly. Although he has
not yet confessed his guilt he admits that he
has some faint recollection of the murder,
and at intervals he goes so far as to suppose
that he must have done it. He still clings
to the belief that an appeal to the Executive
Council will either result in the post-
ponement or revocation of the death
sentence. To day he sent a letter to
Mr. Marshall Lyle, his solicitor, asking for
an interview with Mr. Alfred Deakin to

discuss the terms of an application to the

Executive which meets on Tuesday. It is
probable an application will be lodged on
that day. The prisoner still adheres to some
features of his original role. He wakes at
two o'clock in the morning to commune with
the spirit of his dead mother, and assures
everybody that she particularly admonishes
him to kill Miss Rounsefell. The prison
authorities place no belief in this statement.

MELBOURNE, May 5.

Deeming has to all appearance quite re-
covered his usual spirits, and eats and sleeps
well. He has handed to the governor of the
gaol a statement respecting the Rainhill
murders. It is merely a repetition of the
incoherent statements already made to the
medical men. He spends all his spare time
in writing, and is presumably adding volu-
minous details to his autobiograpy handed to
his solicitor, Mr. Lyle.

Mr. Lyle states that the appeal to the
Executive for reprieve will be accompanied
by a strong request that in the interests of
science the condemned man's brains be
handed immediately after the execution to
the medical profession. A similar request
was refused in the case of Colston, the
Karbethong murderer.

A telegram has been received by the
Secretary of the Law Department from the
Mayor of Grenfell, New South Wales, to the
effect that the residents of Grenfell are in
accord with the sentence passed on Deeming,
and are of opinion that in the interests of
society and morality the full punishment
should be carried ont.

AFTER his resignation of the position of
editor of the Victorian Express, Mr. A. Car-
son received the following letter from Mr.
W. Jese, Chairman of Directors of the Vic-
torian Express Company, Limited. The

letter shows that we are not singular in our
opinion of the baselessness of the charges
brought against Mr. Carson. Mr. Jose, writing
under date Geraldton, April 21st, says:
"You having resigned your position as
editor of the Express, I feel that it is my
duty to write you a line to express my per-
sonal regret at your severance from the
paper. I am quite sure that the share-
holders, with one exception, also think as I
do, and that they will show the same feeling
of dissatisfaction at the attitude assumed by
Mr. H. E. Kenny, which has led to the late
unpleasantness and ultimately to your
resignation. It will be some slight source of
satisfaction, however, for you to learn that,
as a public protest against Mr. Kenny's
conduct, I intend to resign my position as
Chairman of Directors. I feel quite
sure that a more suitable appointment
will soon be open to you in Geraldton,
when I shall have much pleasure in
recommending you as a journalist—if any
such recommendation of mine be necessary.
I remain, etc., (Signed) W. Joss, Chairman
of Directors Victorian Express Company

Limited."

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