GIRL CONDEMNED BY WOMAN JURY.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 188, 9 August 1924, Page 19

GIRL CONDEMNED BY WOMAN JURY.

ALLEGED SUICIDE PACT WITH MARRIED MAX.

A Jury composed entirely of women returned a verdict of wilful murder at an Ashton-under-Lyne Inquest against Edith Alice Weston, of Grosvenor Street, Stalyforidge, who was found gasping for breath in a room full of gas.

By her side, lying dead, was William Ewart Jackson, a stripper and grinder, of Ash ton.

The girl was wearing only her nightdress, and was apparently suffering from the effects of gas goisonlns. After treatment she recovered.

It was stated that Jackson, who had been living apart from his wife, disappeared with Weston from Ills "work at a Stalybrldge mill, where the girl was also employed.

During his absence Mrs. Jackson claimed the fjurnlture of the house. Jackson returned to find the house empty.

Neighbours, pitying his starred and wet condition, found him clothing, food and fire. He told them he had been tramping the country for a whim. No one saw Weston, but the next morning Jackson and the girl were found in the circumstances described above.

In a notebook -was found a message signed "Bill and Edith," which aaid:—

An ignominious eslt of two poor outcasts, who yearn for the love no one seemed to have to bestow upon us. We hope that no one will think this attachment is of long standing. It Is not. All that we desiro is that anybody or everybody that we haTe deceived will forgive us.

We do not want anybody to mourn vi. Wo do not expect It. I only hope that on the final Judgment day any good actions of mine will be added to those of Edith and her wrong once to mine. We are willing to take our trial and to receive our sentence. God Mess my little Gladys; sne did lore mc with a genuine love, as did the woman who has gone with mc. At our Joint request please lay us together, IT that bo possible. Weston, who was present at the inquest, admitted that she had lived with Jackson.

The coroner said It was a sordid story of Illicit affection and 6elf-murder. Ho pointed out that if two persons agreed to die together, and only one died, the survivor was guilty of murder as a principal in tho second degree.

The Jury decided that there had been an. agreement between tb two persons, and returned a verdict of wilful murder against Weston, who was committed for trial on the coroner's warrant.