THE ILFORD MURDER.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3149, 25 December 1922, Page 7

THE ILFORD MURDER.

THE STORY OF THE GRIME. The story of the Ilford murder, the trial in connection with which is now figuring in our cable messages, is one) of domestic infelicity and! illicit infatuation. At first the murder was surrounded by mystery, and it caused l a great sensation, but by means to be afterwards mentioned the police soon/ stripped the case of its element of mystery. The story, however, was described by the Daily Chronicle .as one of the most extraordinary of recent times. The murdered man was Percy Thompson, a young shipping clerk engaged in the city. His wife, aged 27 years, was also in employment, being engaged in a wholesale millinery establishment. Frederick Edward Francis Bywaters, who is now, with Mrs Thompson, standing trial for murder, is a young man of 21 years, who was engaged as a purser's writer on the P. and 0. Company's liner Morea, and about three weeks previous to the murder he returned from a voyage to Australia, going to live with his widowed 1 mother, who kept a small millinery shop. Bywaters had known Mrs Thompson for six years and Mr Thompson for about four years, and last year he lived with them from June 18 to August 1, the first week as a guest and afterwards as a paying guest. In a statement made by him after hie arrest Bywaters said: "The cause of my leaving was that Mr Thompson quarrelled with Mrs Thompson, and threw her across the room. I thought it an unmanly thing and I interfered." He further said that he had known fof a very long time that Mrs Thompson had led ai very unhappy life. It was admitted by both that Bywaters and Mrs Thompson had on many occasions gone out together without the husband's knowledge, and it was also admitted by both that letters in affectionate terms had passed between them, she addressing him as "Freddie" and he writing to her as "Dear Edie." There was some talk about a separation or ai divorce. It was haff-ain-hour after midnight on the 4th October that the crime was committed in a quiet thoroughfare a short distance from the dead man's home in Kensington gardens, Ilford. Thompson was walking home with his wife after having been to the Criterion Theatre. He was stabbed by a mysterious hand, but Mrs Thompson told the police that she saw nobody stab her husband. Dr Maudsley, who lives near by, was called to the scene within a few minutes of the tragedy, and by the flickering light of a match he examined Thompson and formed 1 the conclusion that death was due to internal hemorrhage. It was not until the body was removed! to the mortuary that it was discovered that Thompson had been done to death by stabbing. A dozen or so of wounds were found, and it was discovered' that the jugular vein had been slashed. There were two deep cuts on the neck and the left arm, and wounds on other parts of the body, including the back. Bloodstains on the path and roadway, unnoticed in the darkness of night, were found in the morning. Dr Prqut, who made a post-mortem examination, stated in evidence that lie estimated that Thompson walked 44ft in the direction of his home from the moment the first blow was delivered. The statement of Mrs Thompson that .she saw nobody stab her husband was met by a statement made by a resident in the neighborhood, Mr John Webber, who said that he heard a woman's voice screaming "Oh, don't, don't." He first heard these screams about 50 yards away, as he was going upstairs to retire to bed at 12.35. He went to the scene, and there asked if the man had had a fall, and Mrs Thompson, who was stupified answered: "Yes, no; I don't know." The case was placed in the hands of one of the "Big Four" of Scotland Yard, and events followed in quick succession. It was just after Tuesday had passed away in favor of Wednesday that the crime was committed. On the same day Mrs Thompson and Bywaters were taken to the police station and held for investigation, and on Thursday they were formally charged with the murder and remanded for a week. Startling developmets followed'. When the case was resumed Detective Inspector Hall read a statement made by Bywaters as follows: "Edith Thompson was not aware of my movements on Tuesday, October 4. 1 left Manor Park at 11 p.m., and proceeded to Ilford. I waited for Mrs Thompson and her husband. When near Eiidsleigh Gardens \ pushed her on one side. 1 also pushed him further up the street. I said to him., 'You have got to separate from your wife.' He said, No.' I said. 'You will have to.' We struggled. I took my knife from « pocket, and we fought, and lie got the worst of it. Mrs Thompson must have been spellbound, for I saw nothing of her during the fight. I ran away through Eiidsleigh Gardens, through Wanstead, Leytonstone to Stratford. 1 got a taxi from Stratford to Aldgate, and walked from there to Fenchurch street. I got another taxi to Thornton Heath, and then walked home to Upper Norwood, arriving home about a a.m. 1 did not intend to kill him. I only meant to injure him. I gave him an opportunity to stand up to me asa man, but he would not. I have had tho knife for some time. It was asheath knife. I threw it down the drain when I was running through Endsleigh Gardens." At a later stage of the proceedings in the same day the prosecuting counsel referred to a valuntary statement by Mrs Thompson at the Ilford Police station on the sth. In that statement she stated that she had always been on ifl'cctionate terms with her husband, uid describing their walk home after ! being at the theatre she said 1 : "My ; husband suddenly went into the roadtvay. I went, after him, and he fell up against, me and called out "Oh!" - fie was staggering and' bleeding, and I : ho tight the blood was coming from his 1 nouth. I can't remember whether 1 ' saw anyone else there or not. T know there was no one else there when he staggered up against me. I got hold ' >f my husband with both hands, and • insisted him to get against the wall. - He stood there a minute or two. and J :hen slid down on the footway. J slip>ed to the ground as well. He never J ■poke. I got up off the ground', and; 1 •an with the intention of calling a doc- i tor. On the way I met a lady and ' gentleman, and said: 'Can I get" a doe- ■'< ior. or will you help me?' I have mown Bywaters for seven years. We i vere at school together—at least. I ] vas not, but my two brothers were. He f has been for a very long time on visitng terms with my family." 1 Then counsel said that at the con- ' ■lusion of the statement Mrs Thompson < vas taken to the> matron's room. Asihc passed the room where. Bvwaters a vas. she said: "Oh, God! Oh, GocT! 1 What can I. do? Why did: he do it? 1 did not want him to do it." She furher o-aid: "1 must tell the police, s When we got near Eiidsleigh Gardens a i. man rushed out and pushed me away i roni my husband. I was dazed for a * noment. When I recovered l I saw my i lusband scuff ling with a man. The nan I knew as Freddie Bywaters was r ■unning away. He was wearing a blue c ivercoat. I knew it was him, although ] [ did not see Ins face." i

After a great deal of evidence had been heard, the bench of thirteen Magistrates, including one woman Magistrate, committed both the prisoners for trial at the Assizes for murder. That is the trial now recorded by our cablegrams. __^_________