ILFORD MURDER TRIAL.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17634, 11 December 1922, Page 8

ILFORD MURDER TRIAL.

THE ACCUSED GIVE EVIDENCE. (By Cable—Prese Association—Copyright.) .Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, December 8. At the trial at the Old Bailey of Bywaters and Mrs Thompson, charged with the murder of Percy Thompson, a shipping clerk, al llforu, spectators created a new record, arriving at the Court at 11 o'clock at night, in expectation of hearing Mrs Thompson's evidence to-day. Women were almost completely ousted from the queue, which stood in a steady drizzle of rain. The crowd passed the night playing cards and occasionally singing. Bywaters, continuing his evidence, denied there was an agreement with Mrs Thompson with reference to the latter's husband, beyond getting a separation or a divorce. He 1 bought a sheath knife in 1915, and carried it at home and abroad. He lunched with Mrs Thompson on the day of the murder and arranged to meet her next day. After leaving a friend's place that night, he suddenly decided to try to see the Thompsons, in order to arrive at an amicable, understanding about the divorce. When he reached Ilford he saw the Thompsons walking, and overtook them. He pushed Mrs Thompson away, seized the back of Thompson's coat, swung him round, and said, "Why don't you get a divorce or separation, if you, can?" Thompson replied: "I know that's what you want. I shan't do it. It would make it too pleasant for both of you.'' Witness said: "You take a delight in making Edie's life a hell," Thompson replied, "I've got her, and will keep her. I'll shoot you." He struck iritness, and then put his hand to his pocket. Witness drew a knife in self-defence, and plunged it in Thompson's arm as they struggled. Bywaters thought Thompson would kill, him, but hb could not explain the wounds in Thompson's back and neck. He understood Mrs Thompson would get a divorce by providing the ; necessary evidence, but her husband refused to accept it. Mrs Thompson's letters referring to poisons meant she was trying to commit suicide. He had never suggested murdering Thompson. Mrs Thompson, wjw was assisted into the box, gave evltLencein broken and almost inaudible tones. She described th« first happy days of her married life, which were followed by constant difficulties and troubles. They discussed separation and divorce before she met Bywaters. She denied she ever possessed poison, or administered poison to her husband, or put ground glass in his food. The. Solicitor-General pressed Mrs Thompson to say what it was she wanted Bywaters to bring her to give to her husband. "Was it something to poison himP" he asked. Prisoner: "No, but to make him ill." The Judge: Was it not suggested that you should give him something in his food? Prisoner (calmly): It was something to take when he /had a heart attack, and he would not be able to resist it. The reply caused a sensation. Mrs Thompson said that after the scuffle she heard someone run away. She recognised Bywaters's hat and coat. She admitted she had made false statements to the police, owing to her agitation. She wished to shield Bywaters, not wishing his name to be connected with hers .. She did not know her husband was dead at the time. Mrs Thompson affirmed that though she had deceived Bywaters she never had I any intention to poison her husband. She left the witness box weeping bitterly. Mr Cecil Whiteley, K.C., in closing his speech on behalf of Bywaters, admitted that Bywaters had allowed himself to drift into a dishonourable intrigue, but he was no murderer. He asked the jury to say he was not guilty either because it was a case of excusable homicide or one of manslaughter. Mr Whiteley said he had been instructed to say nothing on behalf of Bywaters which would hamper the defence of Mrs Thompson. At the luncheon adjournment Mrs Thompson was carried from the dock in a fainting condition, while her mother also fell in a dead faint, and had to be carried out.

Sir H. Curtis Bennett, on behalf of Mrs Thompson told the jury: "It is not ordinary people you are trying. \'ou have got to get into the atmosphere of a play opera. Mrs Thompson is a woman who lives in melodorama." He said the woman prisoner was one of the most extraorumary personalities "you or I have ever met." She was eight years older than the man, and the correspondence seemed to show that he was prepared to go to any extreme to keep his love, but in reality he was not prepared to do anything. The letter were simply the outpourings of an hysterical, melodramatic brain. Both Mr Wliitely and Sir H. Curtis Bennett complained about two people being charged with murder together. The judge explained that if two people conspired to murder, both were guilty, although one was not present when the murder was committed-

Sir H. Curtis Bennett's speech was not finished when the Court adjourned. The judge warned the jury not to forget that I 'we are trying a -vulgar, common crime. We are not listening to a play." SPECTATORS' ALL NIGHT QUEUE. (Received December 10th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 9. Public interest is being maintained in the Ilford murder case. A queue commenced to form at nine o'clock on Friday night and by three o'clock in the morning there were sufficient people to fill the public gallery of the Old Bailey to overflowing. One man sold his place in the queue for 603.