The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1892-04-09 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

DEEMING IDENTIFIED BY FIFTY PERSONS. The adjourned inquest concerning the death of Emily Matter, known as Mrs. Williams, whose body was found embedded in cement under the floor of a cottage at Windsor, a suburb of Melbourne was resumed in the City Court on Tuesday. Before these proceedings began, Deeming was seen by fifty-five witnesses, of whom fifty positively identified him under no fewer than fifteen different aliases. Only three of them failed to pick out Deeming almost immediately. While he was being conveyed from his cell to the court several of witnesses who had identified him assembled in the the narrow corridor through which he had to pass, and he exhibited his resentment by striking one of them in the face and attempting to strike another. Previously to the resumption of the inquest, Deeming was brought before a police magistrate and formally charged with the murder of his wife. He was then remanded in order to enable him to be present at the inquest. The interior of the court was packed by well. dressed ladies, prominent citizens, journalists, artists, and other favoured individuals, the body of the court being reserved for the representatives of the press. A sensation was produced in the outset by a detective entering and placing upon the table the tools used in burying the victim of the murder. The prisoner stood in front of the dock, with hi hands in his pockets, and seemed perfectly cool and collected. He calmly regarded the Coroner While the latter read through the evidence taken at an earlier stage. The first deposition was that of Dr. Muliens. It described how the skull of the dead woman had been fractured, the throat cut, and the body tied up in a bundle. As the reading of this testimony proceeded the prisoner's face flushed, but he exhibited no other sign of emotion. The owner of the house where the murder was committed then described how the prisoner, whom he identified in court, and %hem he had known under the name of Drouin, took his house on December 16th, 1891, for a short term. Then he went on to narrate how on March 3rd, when he was showing a lady over the empty house, be noticed a horrible odour ; how, on loosing over the premises thoroughly, he observed that the hearthstone in one room seemed higher than its proper level ; and how he had the stone lifted. Amid intense excitement the witness spoke of the ghastly discovery of the doubled-up body of the deceased, and stated that he at once sent for the police. Evidence of identification was then given, several witnesses deposing to their having recognised the remains as those of Mn. Williams, and also swearing that the prisoner in court was Williams, the husband of the deceased. Very important evidence, as tending to connect Williams in the most direct manner with the murder, was given by an ironmonger and his wife, who sold to the prisoner on Dec. 17, a spade, a trowel, and a barrel of cement. Throughout the proceedings the prisoner maintained an indifferent air, and laughed aloud more than once. The proceedings were adjourned till nex day.