The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-18

Whenever He Wanted to Marry Another
Woman He Murdered His Wife.

LIVERPOOL, March 1.-THE excitement
caused by the discovery yesterday of five
bodies buried under the floor of house at
Rainhill continues, and further develop
ments in the case are eagerly awaited. 1t
has transpired that before coming to Eng
land Williams, whose arrest at Melbourne
has led to the unearthing of the bodies,
was living in Sydney. Shortly~after he
left that city his wife and four children
disappeared. and it was supposed they had
followed Williams to England. Rumors
OF his intended marriage to young girl
named Mather had reached Sydney, and it
was maturity supposed that Mrs. Williams
and her children had left for Liverpool
to prevent the consummation of this
crime. The police expect to prove that
the bodies found yesterday are those of
the wife and children, and that Williams
killed them in order to carry out his in
tension to marry Miss Mather without
molestatlon. Williams did marry the girl
in question, and took her to Melbourne,
where he killed her in order to marry an
other girl. The police have discovered a
child's copy book in the house at Rainhill,
in which is inscribed the name of Bertha
Deenf5ng. 1t is known that Williams
alias was Deeming when in Australia.
The police are still pursuing their inves-
legations atthe house. The place is sur
rounded by immense crowds. The au-
thorities have traced a large, heavy box
belonging to Williams to the railway sta
ton at Plymouth. The box is addressed
to Mrs. Holds" and has never been
called for. Much curiosity is felt to learn
its contents.
Today gardener who lives next door to
where the bodies were found recognized
the first body as that Of a woman he had
seen in the back yard of bingham Villa
on August 9 last. On August 10 he heard
children screaming, but paid no attention
to It, thinking that perhaps some of the
children had been hurt. He never saw the
woman or children afterwards. Another
man recognized the body as that of Marie
Deeming, who had been in the employ of a
Liverpool fshmonger. Williams married
her under the name of Deeming, at that
time describing himself as a mining en-
gineer. Williams and his wife afterwards
went to Hull, where Williams was ar
rested, convicted of forgery and sentenced
to Imprisonment. On being discharged he
married young woman in Hull, deserted
her and returned to Marie. Accompanied
by Marie, Williams went TO Cape
Town and then returned to Birken-
head The man believed Williams
was the same individual who married a
young lady named Matheson at Beverly,
in 1890, assuming the name of Harry Law
son. He then described himself as a
large farmer in Australia. He gave num-
Der of valuable presents to Miss Mathe-
son, deserted her, and absconded to South
America. Miss Matheson swore out
warrant charging him with the theft of
the presents he had given to her. He was
arrested in Uruguay brought back to Hull
and sent to Jail for nine months. During
the time he was in prison. it was ascer-
tajned that he married the deserted lady
in Birkenhcad in 1SSs. The more facts
brought to light the stronger grows the
belief that Williams is the most consum-
mate, cool-blooded villain this or any
other country ever produced. The police
believe he committed other murders.
Deeming, or Williams, has brother
who resides in Birkenhead, and who was
summoned to attend the inquest today on
the bodies of Mrs. Deeminc and the four
unfortunate children. lie bears a strik-
ing resemblance to the murderer, and had
narrow escape this afternoon from
lynching at the hands of the crowd. The
murderer has always been Of a restless dis
position. He married the woman Marie
James in 1850, and she accompanied him
to Australia, remained in that country
number of years, and returned to England
IN July last, bringing with her four chill
dren They remained with her sister
until their mysterious disappearance. a
dispatch from Melbourne tonight says
Williams, or Deening, is expected to reach
Perth tomorrow, where he will be re-
manded for court proceedings.