THE WAIKOMITI MYSTERY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 297, 14 December 1892, Page 5

THE WAIKOMITI MYSTERY.

SCOTT BEFORE THE COURT.

As amount of interesting eridence was taken in the charge of wilful murder preferred against Alexander Jataes Scott ab rthe R.M. Court yesterday in addition bo! that already published. Mr J. A. Tole conducted the prosecution, instructed by Inspector Broham, and Mr g, Heskebb appeared for the de fence. . IMPORTANT EVIDENCE. Chief-Detective Martin Grace deposed he first Baw Scott on the Ist of November, ac the house of William Thompson, at Waikomid. Detective Chrystal was -with the ac" ' cused. The three of thorn wont upstairs. Chrystal asked the prisoner for a black bag that he had takon from Ins uncle's house the previous night. Accused pointed oub a B mall black black bag that was lying on the floor, and said that was the one, and he had taken a change of clothing in it from hi 3 uncle's to Mr Thompson's house. The bag was empty. Detective Chryst.il then searched the'accused. Dr. Giles : Was ho then in custody ? Witness replied that Scotb was .nob in custody, but be consented, to be searched. They took from the breast pocket of his coat some letters and placed them on a table in the room. Prisoner th<3n said, " these are all Mrs Thompson's letters, she pave them tome last night to keep for her." Detective Chrystal then took from another box a small cardboard box which contained a preventative pessary. Tne priso ocr said, ••That's private, I have purchased that for a.young woman, I must have :'it back." Detective Chrystal placed the article upon the table, whereupon Scott tried %o obtain possession of it. Prisoner then became very .excited. He went to the* top of the stairs and called but " Mi.'S Saul " several times. Mrs Saul did not come. Scott then called Mrs Thompson. She ' come upstairs. Detective Chrystal had the box and pessary in his hand. Mrs Thompson said, "That's mine, you must not take it away, I gave ib bo Mr Scobt to keep forme." Witness asked Mrs Thompson if she had any letters which she bad received from Mr Scobb. She opened the lid of a box in her bedroon,, removed . some female wearing apparel, and in tbe centre of the box was a bundle of letters. Tan of these were addressed "' Mrs Thompson, care of Mr Hall, Mackay-street, Thameß." She said these were letters she had received from Scott. Six letters were addressed similarly, marked Mr Thompson to Mrs Thompson. Two letters were from Mrs Haslett to Mrs Thompson, to the same address, and one English letter to Mrs Thompson. With the lebters in the box was A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE PRISONER SCOTT. Thsre were three copies of Scott, and one of Scott and another man taken together. On a dressing table in Mrs Thompson's room was a razor strop, and in the drawer of the. dressing table was a razor, which was claimed by Scobb as his property, stating "I shaved myself; in this room this morning.'- Aboub 4.30 o'clock the same day witness arrested tbe prisoner in company with Detective Chrystal. Wibness bold bhe prisoner he waß going to search a room occupied by him in his uncle's house, and asked him to accompany them *aud he present at the search. ''They went |o Mr Wilson's house and searched -prisoner _ room. On a couch witness found two ladies' choinises, which ifere produced. Prisoner said : "I wear them next my skin, for softness. My mother 19ft them to me when she was here." In a match-box witness found ; THREE PAWN TICKETS. Two were dated July oth, 1892, and tho other July 16th. The one on July _th representee, a gold watch and a gold chain. One was in the name of J. H. Murray, and one in that of Mr Murray. The one for the 16th was for a gold ring, also in the name of. Mr Murray. Witness found ah envelope addressed "Mrs Thompson care of Mf Scott." ; Inside was Mr Maxwell's bill. Witness saw Detective Chrystal find a letter :in a box in the prisoner's room. It was addressed "A. J. Scott, Esq., Waikomiti, Auckland," and signed Alice Thompson. The date was July, 14, 1892. A postscript to the letter was signed " D." Mr He9keth submitted bhat letter should not go in as evidence, unless there was some proof connecting Mrs Thompson with it. |t was very irrelevant, and unless ib was shown bo have been written by Mr Thompson, of Waikomiti, it ought not to go in. ' Mr Tole said: I put them in now, as found in the prisoner's possession. Dr. Giles.said he could not shut oub articles found.in the prisoner's possession. Mr Hesketh said his friend's suggestion was, bhab bhe letter was written by Mrs Thompson. Dr. Giles said he would take the letter as a thing found in tho accused's possession , and purporting to be from Alice Thomp--1 son. Detective Grace said in a pair of trousers hanging in prisoner's room Detective Chrystal found a letter. It purported to be signed, " Bertie," and beginning "My own darling wife." Detective Chrystal was reading the letter, and witness asked what was the purport of ib. Chrystal replied, "It's from a man to h*9 wife." Witness asked, " What man," and Chrystal replied, " Scott, signing himself 'Bertie.' " Prisoner did not make any remark. They also found in bhe room the book produced signed with the name "Alice Thompson," and dated 4th May, 1892. On searching the room the letter signed "Alice Thompson " was shown to the prisoner by Detective Chrystal, who said it was a lebber from Mrs Thompson bo Scotb. Prisoner , replied " Yee." As they were returning to town that night from Waikomiti, tha prisoner, Detective Chrystal, and himself were inside. Prisoner said, " Well, there are only the two of you here, and so help ra'e God thab man took his own life." On the Bth of November, while travelling with the prisoner from New Lynn to Auckland, witness was arranging the ten letcers found in tne box. The prisoner said, " You are very careful of those letters, Mr Grace, They are mine." Witness subsequently obtained the watch, chain and ring from the pawnbrokers. Witness also found another letter addressed to Mr Scott from Mr W. Coleman. Thab letter *"■" found in Mrs Thompson's rooms Tne watermark on some of the letter. w&8 "Original Turkey Mill, Kent." '_. THE LETTERS. All the letters put in were then read. The three of most importance ware as follows :— "Grand Hotel, Princes-street, Auckland, Jons 11,1892.—Dear Mrs Thompson,—Just 6fewlin.9B to say that I will send down one or two books to pass away the time. I BoPe you will h a v e a pleasant trip down, *">« not have the seasick experience. One ?*"_ I am glad of is that the day was; I ™8- Poor little Alfgar felt inclined to ""no back with mo. Mr Thompson has 'wrted for home. I don't think he will be «tr» cheerful to-night. I think Sunnydale I* „n futu *-c be changed to " Waiko2*?/ and "Hermit" should be 2™* to Mr Thompson's long list of _or. He wiU have given mo a «uection by the time you return. -wW ? ofc tor Bet fco take the plant home skiiiT oare of it- Supposing it dies, t "ai *be blamed? Had I better leave it let Mr Thompson experiment with IS? a B*beß. What do you think 1 Give »m some kisses from me, and tell him tell £ orgob hia 2s and the P'£eon' an , fo ' nil1 * to build the house he promised I ft-n* 8 ' an<J I will como down* I Diotn. LBer,d h>m down one or two 1 *IMU"9 books nexb week. I must now id ■

finish with kind regards.—Believe me, yours sincerely, Bertie Scott. P.S.—Remember me to Mr Hall, and say that any time he ia in Auckland and feels inclined to take a run oub to Waikomiti, that I will be glad to see him, and make him as comfortable as we possibly can.—B.S." "Mackay- street Thames, 14th July, 1892. My dear Mr Scott.—l received your letter this morning and 1 was wondering if you would be in town on Saturday if you would meet our boat. I should like you to so much, if you do not think ib too much trouble. They want to telegraph from here for one of the Cousins to meet the boat, but I have told them either you or Mr Thompson will. Mrs Hasletb also said she would if. I.told her what day, but I said there was no need for her to. So if you can manage somehow I should be so glad. You will,not be able to get this letter till Suturday, but I thought if you were riding to the station you could ride on and take the bus. If ie should be wot don't trouble to come. It is hard to say to-day what the weather will bo like on Saturday, but Ido hope it will be fine. Thi3 afternoon it looks so gloomy. In case I come to-morrow, will you call in at llaslett's, Queen-street, to see before you go down to the boat. On Saturday the boat leaves here ab 10 a.m., and 1 suppose will get to Auckland 2.30 or 3. p.m. I am so sorry to hear you aro unwell. I trust you are better before thiß. Please do not come to.town, if you don'b feel well enough. I would like to drive up on Sunday jusb to have a look round, bub am afraid funds will nob afford it. Perhaps wo shall be up some time next week to stay for three or four weeks. Hoping to see you on Saturday, with lota of kisses from Alfgar, and yours very sincerely, Alice. Thompson.—l wrote you a short letter yesterday, and posted your smoking cap last Saturday. You ought to have received ib before you posted on Tuesday, and sorry you did nob. This letter was found in the pocket of a pair of trousers in Scott's room. " " Fridaynight: Myowndarlingwife,—As I told you, T. went to town to-day and has not yet returned. You can see by the note-paper where lam writing this. I am sitting in my darling's chair to write. T. said if he waß not home early would I come down and feed Rose and Bess, and I eaid I would. So lam here waiting for him. Oh, my darling, what opportunities I am getting. I can do it any time, dear, audi wish to God it was done, so that I could call you my very own. Oh, Dolly, dear, what a difference between this Friday and last. Ah ! my sweet wife, 1 was happy with you, darling. Are we going to have any more happy days? Dolly, my sweet wife, do your want to come back bo your own Bertie, do you, darling? I am only jusb scribbling a fow lines. I saw paper on the table. My Dolly, I won't wait much longer; 1 can't stand it.—Your own true, loving, and devoted husband, Bertie. I think lam writing with your pon. What do you think?— Bertie." TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. This morning, on the case being resumed, Chief-Detective Grace, when further examined by Mr Tole, stated that he took possession of some bottles, on the 2nd of November in Thompson's house, and made a list of them according to their labels and appearance. On the 9th of November he handed them over to Mr Pond, He also banded a list with them, and the analyst checked the list. Cross-examined by Mr Hesketh, witness stated thab though present ab Waikomiti on the day of the inquest, he did not hear Airs Saul's evidence. He asked Scott where he had buried the strychnine, and the latter showed lum. It wasinanashpitabtherear of Wilson's house. Witness, before asking . the question, cautioned the prisoner and fold him he was not bound to answer, as anything he said would bo used as evidence against him. This was on the day after Scott's arrest, and witness asked the question because the accused had said in his statement that he had thrown away some strychnine. Scott did nob say be had buried it, he said he threw it away, the poison being mixed in milk. Witness said he discovered nothing at either Thompson's or Wilson's houses which were not on tbe list, or which he had nob mentioned in his evidence. Mr Hesketh said he would ask leave to recall Mrs Saul in reference to the ' razor and strop found in Mrs Thompson's room. The following letter from the office of Mr Coleman, addressed to Mr Scott, Waikomiti, was handed in by the detective: Dear Sir,—On consideration I think it would be best if we had possession of the papers belonging to Mr Thompson. I have, therefore, asked my brother to go out and get them. If you will kindly let my brother (Mr E. M. Coleman) have them for me I shall feel obliged. The following receipt was also handed in : — " Received from Mrs Thompson tho will of Mr Thompson, deceased, also agreement as to tenancy of Ellerslie House and Savings Bank pass book.—Wm. Coleman, per Edmund Coleman." DETECTIVE CHRYSTAL'S EVIDENCE. William Livingstone Chrystal, detective officer, stated that he knew the accused, whom he met for tho first time at the house of the deceased, William Thompson. On the morning of the inquest he took down a statement by Scotb, which tho prisoner signed. He again saw the accused between one and two o'clock, and asked to see the conbenbs of THE BLACK BAG, which accused book away from his room after the police constable had left. Accused said he did not understand what bag was referred to. . Witness then said to accused, " Your uncle says that you abused him last night for taking the constable into your room without a warrant, and that afterwards you took a black bag full of something from the room." Whilst witness was examining the bag accused said •• Whab are your suspicions ? Do you suspect me?" Witness told him thab he had learned from Wilson that be was buying poison under fictitious names, and asked the accused if he had any objection to be j-earched. The latter said he had not. Witness thereupon called in Detective Grace and the three went upstairs. Witness then corroborated the evidence of Detective Grace with regard to the discovery of the letters and other details connected with the search. With regard to tho LETTER SIGNED BERTIE. Witness said, "This is a letter from a man to his wife—from Scotb to his wife." On making a comparison of the notepaper with that of a letter dated the 17th and 20th of June, 1892, from Mr Thompson to Mrs Thompson it was found to correspond in shape, size, quality und water mark. The letter signed "Bertie" was in the same hand writing as the ten letters from Scott to Mrß Thompson. The statement made by Scott to the Detectives was also read and put in. Cross-examined by Mr Hesketh, Detective Chrystal said that accused asked the question, "By whom am I suspected?" of Inspector Broham. No one else, as far as witness knew, was in the room when accused asked the question. Some one might have come in, but he did not think they did. Witness did not hear the inspector's answer. Mr E. Coleman wenb wibh witness when he wenb to search Scott's room at Wilson's house. He was present all the time in the room, and could see all thab was going on. Wibness was nob presenb when Mrs Saul gave her evidence. He found nothing further than what he had stated. All the bottles he found were in Thompson's house. ■

By Mr Tole: Witness stated that he found four bottles in the dining-room that wero not mentioned in Detective

Grace's list. He handed them over to Mr Pond. POWELL THE CHEMIST. The next witness called was William Powell, who deposed thab in March last he was carrying on business as a chemist in Karangahape Eoad. Since then he had been in the gaol. He bad known the accused as Scott. He believed that he saw him in March last when ho was known to witness by the name of Edward Williams. On the 30th March, 1892, accused bought from him six grains of strychnine. The entry was in the poisonsale book (produced). Accusedsigned the book on thab occasion with the name, "Edward Williams, Swanson Railway Station." On the 10th July accused purchased an ounce of belladonna an ounce, of aconite. Both preparations were homceopathic. He signed tho same name as before. Accused wished tbe stronger kind for his own use, he said, but witness said he should take the weaker preparation and use mora of ib. Before March Scott had purchased several small things from witness, but nothing of a poisonous nature. When in the cell at bhe police station Scotb asked witness if he had anything to do-with tbepresent case, and witness said " no." He did not associate Scott with the man Edward Williams who had boughb poisons from him. 'INSPECTOR BROHAM'S STATE-' MENT. Inspector Broham deposed that on the 2nd November he obtained three bottles said to contain portions of the body of the late William Thompson and a small phial with a' few white crystals from Dr. Roberton. He stored them in a box at the Police Station, and on the morning of the sth of November handed them over to Mr Pond, the analyst. Constable Kelly also stored a small basket containing some bottles in the same box before it was sealed uponbhe2nd. ConstableLawryaccompanied, the witness to Mr Pond's placo and carrier! the three bottles. Witness received a receipt from Mr Pond for the articles when Vie handed thorn into the iatter's possession. Sergeant Ellison was in charge of the key of the store in which the box containing the bottles was stored. When at Waikomiti a letter was handed to witness by Captain Herald. It was a communication from deceased to his mother (letter produced). Witness was in the room when Scott made his statement, and was interrogating him. Detective Chrystal was with him, and he believed thab for a portion of the time Constable Kelly was there also, Witness could see everyone that came into the room and no one could have come in without his knowing it. CONSTABLE KELLY'S EVIDENCE. Constable Kelly, being sworn, said that he knew the accused. On tho 31st October last he went to Waikomiti and made some inquiry concerning tho dfjath of MiThompson. He overtook the accused about half • past twelve, driving in a cub on the Greab North Road. Mrs Thompson and Mrs Saul \Pere with him, On arrival at Mrs Thompson's house he went into deceased's bedroom, and found three small bottles standing On a small table at the foot of deceased's bed. One was marked eucalyptus., another, compound chlorate of pota.sh, and tho other liquid ammonia. He took possession of them, Ho then went into a room with Mr Wilson. On the washstaud he found two bottles. One was marked " Henderson —Laudanum." The other had no label upon it, and contained a white liquid. He also saw in the room a box which was locked. At his request), Mr Wilson burst it open by prizing the lock. In the box he ■ found a small box, maiked"Rougnon Rats," one small bottle marked chloral hydrate, another bottle marked "Poison." Witness also found another bottlo with an amber-coloured liquor in ib. He took possession of the bottles and placed them in the Police Station in the presence of Inspector Hroliam and Sergeant Ellison. On the sth of November he took the bottles out of the box and handed them over to Mr Pond. Witness was present, he said,'when accused mado his statement to Inspector Broham. No one else was in tho room besides bhe Inspector, Detective Chrystal and himself. Cross-examined by Mr Hesketh, witness stated that ha was not in the room all the time that Scott's statement was being taken down. He went oub once. MraSaul and Mrs Thompson were in the house. Wit: ne3B did nob think thatbhey could have heard whab was going on from where they wero. The walls of the place wore wooden and witness could not sny whether it would be possible to hear in one room what wa3 being said in another. As we go to press, Mr Pond, tho analyst who analysed the contents of tho bottles taken by Dr. Roberton, from tho body of the deceased, was being examinod.