The Express.
London, England, 1862-09-11 00:00:00

FRATRICIDE IN CARWARTHIPSHIRE.

LLikNELLY, TUIDIDAT.
On Sunday afternoon the village of Llanon was
thrown into • state of considerable excitement, caused by
the announcement that a young man named Llewellan
Edwards, sou of a respectable tanner at Dwrdawdd-fact,
bad shot Ilia brother, Sommeraley Edwards. The police
immediately went in earth, and succeeded the same after-
soon in apprebeoding the alleged murderer at a place
called Pontardnlais ; and, having coaveyed him to
the lock-up of this town, he wasbrought up yesterday
and examined before Mx. G. H. Remand Mr. 1L G. Thomas,
jun., two of the magistrates for Carmarthenshire.
The Town-hall was densely crowded when the prisoner, a
gentlemanly-looking young man, dressed in naval uniform,
was charged with the crime of wilful murder. His age was
stated to be twenty-ore. The magistrates having first con-
sidered it expedient to retire into • private room, they pro-
ceeded to examine the witnesses in the prisoner's presence.
Police-constable James John deposed that he had appre-
hended the prisoner. On informing him that he was
chtrged with having shot his brother, he replied, "It is
true. 1 have shot my Mother." On the way to Llanelly
he said be had been commanded to do it by the Lord. On
searching him nothing was found except a pocket-handker-
chief and • tobacco-pouch.
David Price, another police.constable, also stationed at
Poutardulais, stated that on going to the farmhouse, where
the murder had been committed, on Sunday evening, he
found the door locked, and that until he mentioned who he
was he was unable to obtain admittance. When he went
in he asked to see the deceased, and the body was shown to
him. It was in the front room, lying on • board. The de-
ceased bad been shot in the head. There were cuts on the
upper part of the forehead. The wkole of the brains
were gone, sod the scalp had been cut off. He inquired
how the murder had been committed, when a hook was
brought by some person in the house, and on it was part of
the brains. It was • farmer of the name of Michael who
brought him the book, and who told him at the same time
that he had found it in the deceased's hand. Witness was
of opinion that the wounds upon the deemed could not
have been self-inflicted, and that they could not have bee'
produced by falling upon any sharp substance. On exa-
mining the yard he found a good deal of blood
and brains, and also a part of the scalp. More
of the brains were scattered about the walk. Wit-
tman made inquiry as to whether any gun bad
been discovered, bit was unable to obtain any
intelligence on that subject. He had beard, how-
ever, that the prisoner was seen with • gun in his pos.
session about a quarter of • mile from the farmhouse. The
murder was committed about three o'clock in the afternoon,
and witness had not vet ascertained whether anyone had
witnessed the deed.
The prisoner, having been duly cautioned, made the fol-
lowing statement :—My father is a solicitors at Daventry,
in Northamptonshire, and is now living there. He
took a farm in Llaaon, called DwreMwdd-fach, in
November last, where my mother and brother re-
sided. My sister is married to a clergyman, narncd
Edward Moutford, of Foremark-hall, near Derby.
My father is now at Daventry. On the 27th of July last
I was getting up at seven in the morning, to join some
young men, when two angels appeared to me, and asked me
if I knew what day of the week it was? It was Sunday.
I then remained in my bed chamber for six weeks. Yester-
day I received a communication from the Lord to shoot my
brother, who had broken every commandment. I found
the gun loaded in the kitchen, prepared for me. It was a
double-barrelled gun. I found my brother in the yard
with a sickle in his band. 1 raised the gun. He said
he was my only brother. I obeyed the Lord's
command. I did not tellhim that I was going to shoot hire.
I was about six feet from him. He put his baud to his
head. I fired, and be fell dead. I did not touch him with
the sickle. Nobody but the Lord was present when I shot
him. I have been a master's assistant in the navy. lam
twenty-one years of age, and retired from the navy about
three years ago. I had been wounded in 1859 by the son of
• clergyman, named Nicholas Dewys, in South ATI}CIiCL I
was on board the ship Wasp, sloop-of-war. He (Dewys)
fired a revolver pistol at me, thinking it was not loaded.
The ball entered my right groin. I bad an attack of epi-
lepsy from the effects of the wound, and was invalided in
consequence, sod left the navy.
This statement the prisoner signed with • firm hand. He
afterwards wrote a letter to his mother to lend him some
clothing, and be expressel • wish to be released from
custody.
The examination was adjourned until a future day, when
Dr. Thomas, of Llanelly, and other medical gentlemen,
will give evidence as to the prisoner's state of mind. Mean-
while, be has been committed to Carmarthen gaol, on his
own confession, on the charge of murder.