A WOMAN'S DEATH.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14908, 5 March 1914, Page 2

A WOMAN'S DEATH.

SON CHARGED WITH MAN-

SLAUGHTER

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

Alexander Thompson appeared fn the Magi:"_.raWa Court yesterday morning, before Messrs T. Wallace, J.P., and W. Barrett, J.P., charged with manslaughter in connexion with the death of his mother, Hannah Thompson, on February 20th last.

Mr J. A. Cassedy appeared for the accused. Chief Detective Bishop prosecuted. A VOLUNTARY STATEMENT. Senior Sergeant Mathieson gave evidence as to the state of affairs when a woman's sobbing led him to enter 329 Durham street. Tho body of Hannah Thompson was lying on a bed, nearly cold. There was a trail of blood about a foot wide, leading from the bedroom into tho kitchen, into the scullery, and leading through into the scullery yard and to the bathroom. Ho produced the accused's statement, given voluntarily and after tho customary caution had been given. It was to the effect that Baxter and accused had come to blows over an argument, and Mrs Thompson had received a blow intended for Baxter. When taking down the statement, Baxter interrupted and said, "That's not true; you deliberately struck her." Examining the accused's right hand, the seniorsergeant said he found two abrasions on the knuckles. MEDICAL EVIDENCE Charles Hand Newton, modical practitioner, said he was summoned to Thompson's hou&e an 7.20 p.m. on February 20th. The woman died a few seconds later in his presence. He heard Baxter say to the accused:— "You killed her," or words to that effect. Thompson told him there had been a squabble between Baxter and himself, and his mother had interfered. Thompson, in passing round the table pushed it, and the edge of it struck his mother. Thomas Leslis Crooko, medical practitioner, said that he made a postmortem examination of the body, which revealed that death was due to haemorrhage caosed by a ruptured varicose vein. Thero wero no external marks of violence, save a 6light bruise on the right check. The body was well nourished, arrd the organs, with tho exception of the liver and brain, healthy. A fall on any sharp corner would have been sufficient to cause the rupture. OTHER WITNESSES. Alfred Ernest Baxter, chemist, carrying on business at the corner of Durham and Victoria streets, eaid the accused called at his shop on the evening of the tragedy, and said that his mother had burst a varicose vein. Witness told him it was a case for medical treatment. The accused said that there had been a* sauabble. and his mother had received a blow intended for Baxter. A rcirl then came in and said. "God. Alec, your mother is dead! To think it should have led to this." Mary Thompson, daughter of the deceased and sister of the accused, also gave evidence. An important statement was made by William Henry John Thompson, a nine-year old child, who said tliat he was in the room when his brother, intending to bit Baxter, struck his mother instead. Sho was nearly crying, ar.d fell down after his brother hit her. The boy continued that Baxter picked up his mother and carried her out of the room. He followed them to the hackyard. His mother was standing up. and Baxter brought her a glass of water. To Mr Cassidy: He wont into Bax-

ter's room, and the latter said to him, •'Tell them that Alec gave hia mother a clout and knocked her down." That was all that was said. FOUR. DISTINCT BLOWS. William Baxter, labourer, said there had beon a dispute over a pair of his bootlaces, -which were missing. Thompson knocked him down, and when his mother spoke, he knocked her down also. The accused hit her a second time, and she fell on a fender. After ho had carried her out into the yard, by way of the front door, the accused struck her again, and for a third time she fell down. Later Mrs Thompson said. "What's the use of kicking up a fuss, my son, about a pair of lace-"? For the fourth time, the accused knocked her down. She fell on an apple caso, and then furious bloeding set in.

Detective-Sergeant Hunt said ho had examined the house. He found the fonder broken and seven spots of blood closo by. There were splashes of blood at the front door, and fourteen more splashes up to the tap. The accused pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence, and was comtaitted for trial at the Supreme Court. Bail was allowed, accused in £100. and two sureties of £50 or one of £100.