Glasgow Courier. — 1858-04-08 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

THE LATE MURDERS AND SUICIDE AT LERWICK.  TLe John o'Groat Journal gives full details of this lamentable tragedy, but nothing material is added to the facts already published. It adds—The motive which Williamson had for committing so wholesale a massacre of those nearest and dearest to him is yet an utter mystery. He had ever enjoyed the reputation of an estimable, kind-hearted man; and by those who knew him best, he is said to have been an affectionate husband and father. The surmise that he might be urged to such extremities by undue fear as to his worldly circumstances seems also to be unfounded. There is reason to suspect that for some little time past the man's mind had been affected, and that the perpetration of this tragedy was the crowning act of his increasing insanity. His manner was more abrupt; he was less ready to join in conversation ; and he seemed more inclined to shun than to encourage company. He is known also to have been, contemporaneously with this change in his manner, much affected by the sodden death of one who was his intimate friend, and with whom he had had frequent business transactions. Some time ago he is alleged to have been rather a hard drinker, but latterly he is known either to have ceased altogether the use of ardent spirits, ial• at any rate to have become much more abstemious than before. There does not, however, appear to be any room for doubt as to whether it was premeditated or not. It is true that on the day immediately preceding his decease he transacted business as usual, gave some large orders to commercial gentlemen at the time in Lerwick, and appeared to make the usual provision for the summer trade. In the course of the evening, however, and not more than an hour or two before he retired to rest, he had a conversation with some friends, which was, to say the least, peculiar. Two gentlemen, representatives of Glasgow and Aberdeen houses, with whom he was intimately acquainted, called at his shop about the hour of closing. In the course of their conversation, the deceased inquired with some abruptness, if the gentlemen had seen in the papers a report as to the hangman, Calcraft, having been mobbed in Liverpool after a recent execution. Thus introduced, the conversation turned upon the general subject of murders and executions; and he alluded to the cases of the famous Burke and Hare, spoke of the number of their victims, and especially referred to the means by which they were deprived of life. With most of their crimes Ile appeared to be familiar, and ho gave it aa his opioion that death could be most easily and quickly accomplished by a sound stroke from a hammer on the skull of the intended victim. The request that he would join them in their room after he had closed his shop was declined; and when they left him he was apperently in his usual spirits. The hammer by which he inflicted the preliminary injuries upon his victims usually hung upon a nail in the kitchen, where it was used for ordinary domestic purposes. Some time before the tragedy it is sail to have been taken from its place —by whom it was not known—and to have afterwards been returned; but a day or two previous to Thursday, it was again removed, and was not seen till it was discovered with the blood and hair of the innocent inmates, whose death had been accomplished by be aid. It has not yet transpired if any writing has been discoveted which may explain the motives by which the unhappy murderer was inspired. There is reason to believe that there is none. Of the five victims of his demoniac fury, the only aurrivor—his eldest boy—has been carefully tended since his escape, and, by the aid of the surgeon, his dangerous wounds are slowly healing. He is not yet, however, altogether out of danger, and it is doubtful if he will ever sufficiently recover his natural strength. The bodies of the others, with that of the deceased himself, were not interred until Tuesday, and a more mournful cortege was never seen in the streets of Lerwick.