LATE NEWS ALLEGED MURDER.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 16, 24 February 1914, Page 10

LATE NEWS

ALLEGED MURDER.

DEATH OF HANNAH THOMSON. INQUEST CONTINUED. The adjourned- inquest on the de*th of Hannah Thomson was continued at' tho Magistrate 'e Court this afternoon before Mr 11. W. Bialop, coroner. Mr J. A. Cassidy appeared for the accused, Alexander Thomson. Station Sergeant Maihibson depose 1 thai, on thQ evening of Friday last ho went to 329 Durham Street. In a back bedroom he saw accused and a man named Edward Baxter, and the body of! Hannah Thomson lyiag on the bed. The body was dead and getting cold, and witness traced a trail of blood from the side of the bed through the kitchen to the back yard, and to a bathroom or wash house," where there were pools or congealed blood." An attempt had been made to wash it away, and in the yard and bathroom there was much water about. Returning to the bedroom, he agaiu saw Alexander Thomson and William Baxter. Up to this point witness was ignorant of what had taken place. Addressing. Alexander Thomson, in the presence of William Baxter, he asked: "What has been the cause of your mother's death?" Thomson' commenced a Statement, and after he had addressed a few remarks sufficient to indicate that he was implicated, witness gave him the usual caution. Thomson then made the statement already published. Baxter was present when the statement was made, and he intfc je'eted three time;/, . but was cheeked by witness. The second time, when he said "Baxter started going crook on me; he ma ie :* strike at me," Baxter said, "You are making it pretty hot; that is not true." The third time, when Thomson said, "I made a hit at Baxter, and my mother received the blew," Baxter said, "That is not true; you macre a deliberate blow at her.'' Witness arrested Thomson on a charge of wilful murder, and handed the body of dc-eased to Drs Westenra and Crook for examination. Mr Cassidy had no question to ask. BAXTER'S EVIDENCE. William Baxter, labourer, deposed that he had known deceased, and had lived with her as man and wife for about two and a-half years. At the time of the death they were living at ! 239, Durham Street, where they had been for .about; two months. During that time witness had provided for deceased and her two children; also for Alexander for the last three months. Witness" was working at the hospital for Mr J. Smith, contractor. On the 20th witness returned home about 5.20 p.m. When he got home witness saw only Mrs Thomson and the two children, the boy of 9, and the girl of nearly 7.. When witness went in, he went to look at his/best boots, and found that the laces were missing. Witness then asked Mrs Thomson where the laces were. She said she took them out and gave one to the little boy and kept one for herself. Alexander Thomson and Miss Wright came in and went upstairs together. Witness supposed Alexander heard witness speak to deceased about the laces. Alexander came down in a and said, "I'll buy you a pair of •- laces if you want them, for they only cost about sixpence!" Accused was then under the -influence of liquor. Thomson came into the dining room, where witness, de : ceased,- and the two children were. He said, "There's too much of your growling; you're always growling about" something. You have no occasion to take to me." Witness was seated, and about to have his tea/ when Thomson began to use very bad language/Witness got up out of. his chair, and he made a hit at witness, got him on the side of the face and knocked him over on to the. floor. DECEASED KNOCKED DOWN. At this stage (added the witness) deceased said: "Don't make a noise about a pair of boot laces; we'll get a pair of boot laces." She spoke to Alexander. Witness got up and then said: "What's the use of making such a fuss about a pair of laces, and using such infernal language?" The mother said something witness did not hear. Accused, began to swear at her, and knocked her down in the dining room in witness's presence. Witness was not between them, so the blow could not have been meant for him. Witness was three or four yards away at the time. Deceased got up. Accused continued his bad language, and hit his mother again, knocking her down by the fire-place, by the fender. The fender was broken by her fall. The children were still in the room. Thomson kicked at the boy, but missed him. The children were crying. Witness picked up the mother meanwhile, and took her through the front door round to the back towards the bathroom, Witness was partly carrying deceased to steady her. There witness washed her face, aa she was bleeding from the result of the blow. Thomson followed round to the back yard. MORE BLOWS STRUCK. When witness brought deceased out of the bathroom into the yard, she persisted in saying something to accused. "Don't quarrel, my son; there's nothing to quarrel about.'' Alexander said "Shut up, or I'll give you another clout." He hit her with his open hand and knocked her down again. She fell au the ground, and witness again picked her up. Witness said he did not think the thing was so serious, and went inside to get the teapot. Later, Thomson made another blow and knocked his mother down again against a case. Witness then- noted the furious bleeding coming from under her clothes. ' Witness took her over to the bathroom and asked if he could wash her. She said, "I don't think so." Witness drew Alexander's attention to the injuries, saying, "I think you have just about done for your poom mother now." Alexander "took no heed, never answered. Witness carried deceased as best he could to the scullery and stayed with her for a minute or two. Witness then saw the case was very serious. Witness telephoned for assistance, and on his return found Mrs Thomson dying. t Mr Cassidy, in answer to the coroner, said he did not purpose to proffer the evidence of Alexander Thomson. THE VERDICT. The coroner returned a verdict that the death of Hannah. Thomson on February 20 at Christchureh was caused by hemorrhage resulting from a ruj>tufed varicose vein, resulting from a fall against some sharp object, the said fall being caused by a blow from her son Alexander.