PATRICIDE CHARGE

Evening Star, Issue 22273, 26 February 1936, Page 8

PATRICIDE CHARGE

DAVIDSON IN COURT INQUESTS ON PARENTS OPENED • Stepping briskly from the cells to the dock when his name was called, Stanley Davidson, aged 22, gave one glance at the crowded gallery in the Police Court this morning and looked straight ahead in the direction of the magistrate while tlie brief proceedings on a murder charge were held. Davidson was charged with one crime —the murder of his father, Thomas Davidson, at Ravensbourue yesterday. He was not represented by counsel. Although the court was 25 minutes late in sitting, owing to the magistrate (Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) having first to attend the opening of the inquest on the two victims, many men and women, who occupied all the seating accommodation, were sufficiently curious to wait for a glimpse of the accused man. The patricide charge was the first on the list. From the time Davidson’s name was called till he was back in the court cell, barely a minute elapsed. Davidson was dressed in grey flannel trousers and a sports coat. Chief-detective J. B. Young asked for a remand for one week, THe application was granted. At the opening of the inquests at the Dunedin Hospital, Mr Young also appeared for the police. William Downie Davidson, aged 27. a single man, identified the bodies in the hospital morgue as those of his mother, Agnes M‘lntosh Davidson, and his father, Thomas Davidson. TKeir ages were 57 and 66 years respectively. His father, who was formerly a furnaceman, had been living a retired life with his wife and family at 271 Main road, Ravensbourue. Both his mother and father enjoyed very good health. They were in their usual statp of health when he last saw them alive, at 8.15 yesterday morning, when he left for his work.

The Coroner adjourned the inquests sine die.