William Colston, a carpenter, was arrested at Yarra Glen after being recognised outside a hotel by a former acquaintance, A.V. Forster, who slipped away under the pretence of fetching his purse and alerted the local constable. Colston had denied his identity, claiming his name was Lewis, but Constable Arnold confirmed the arrest by locating the distinctive bald spot on the back of his head, matching the description published in the Police Gazette. He had been wanted over the murders of Mr. and Mrs. Davis at Narbethong on 20 February.
Colston was tried, convicted, and hanged at Melbourne Gaol on 21 August 1891.
Upon arrest, Colston acknowledged he was the man being sought and admitted he had committed the murders, proceeding to describe the circumstances under which he had killed the elderly couple.
