THE THOMPSON CASE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16491, 5 March 1914, Page 10

THE THOMPSON CASE.

DURHAM STREET TRAGEDY. CHARGE OF AIANSLAUGHTER. ACCUSED COAIAITTTED FOR :i TRIAL. As the result of the recent tragedy in Durham Street, in which Hannah Thompson, met her death, it was alleged at the hands of her son, the latter, Alexander Thompson appeared at the Alagistrate’s Court yesterday, before Air T. Wallace, J.P., and Air W. Barrett, J.P., charged with manslaughter. , ,Alr OasSidy appeared for the accused, and Clii6f-Detective Bishop conducted the prosecution. Karl Bernard Alax Stracban, draughtsman In the Survey Department, produced plans of the house at Durham Street,' at which the tragedy occurred. POLICE EVIDENCE.

Senior-Sergeant Mathieson said that on!tho evening of February 20 ati about ,‘7.20 p.m. he went, with Constable, Maggin along Durham Street. Their attention ivas, attracted opposite a housfe, , by a woman sobbing. They entered, and went into back bedroom where tbe accused and a man named William Baxter were, and tlie body of Hannah Thompson on the bed! The body was cold. From the bedside was a wide trail of blood leading to tlie side ,of , the bed where tlie. deceased lay.. out of the’bcdvooiu door into the kitchen and into the scullery, leading through to tho place shown on the plan as the bathroom. The blood, continued to the tap, and was also to he seen in tho bathroom. A considerable amount of water bad been thrown about and washing done, but there was still much blood. Witness returned to the room, where the deceased.. Thy u'lid asked tho accusedand..Baxter, if they could offer any explanation as to how the deceased met her death. The accused commenced his explanation, and as soou as lie had said enough to indicate that ho had been a. principal actor witness stopped him, telling him lie need not make a statement if ho did not wish, Thompson, made a statement to the effect that Baxter had been living with the .deceased, and .accused, and deceased quarrelled about, bootlaces. In striking at Baxter in self defence accused-hit his mother .by mistake, aud she fell and died later. During the making of the statement by accused, Baxter interjected, when tho statement was made that Baxter , was living with tho deceased. “Don’t make it too strong.” When the accused stated that, Baxter had.struck at him, Baxter interjected, “ You are making it pretty hot. That, is not true.” When accused said that lie-bad bit at .Baxter and bis mother bad'received the blow, Baxter-said, “That is not true. _ You deliberately struck at her.”' iWitness examiued Baxter, and .found abrasion* on his right knuckles. Witness left the body in tbe bands of Drs Weston ra and Crook, and arrested the-accused. MEDICAL TESTIMONY.

Charles Hand Newton, medical practitioner, said that on February 20 he received a telephone message about 7.20 p.m. to go to Durham Street at onco. Arriving at tlie house he noticed splashes of blood on the footpath an t doorrtep. Witness found deceased lying on--her back in-the-scullery in extremis. Blie died a few minutes after witness arrived; Assisted by Baxter, witness carried the body to the bedroom. Baxter said to the acouseu : “ ton have killed her!” and Thompson, who_ looked rather frightened and smelt or liq.mr. but did not appear to be drunk, said nothing. Accused said there had been a squabble between Baxter and himself, and Airs Thompson had inie.Te.red, and Thompson, in passing around the table, pushed it and the edge • t it struck the deceased. From his casual examination witness thought that death was due to hemorrhage. Thomas Leslie Crook, medical practitioner. said that at 8 p.m. on February 20 lie was called to a house in Durham Street. Arriving, he found deceased lying on tho bed, dead. From her appearance witness concluded she had died of hemorrhage. He examined her with Dr Westenra and found a ruptured varicose vein. Later witness made a post-mortem examination at the Morgpe. The appearance of the various organs \< as c< nelustve in support'of the''opinion that death had occurred from hemorrhage. There were no external marks' of violence except, a slight bruise on the right check, and the body was wed nourished. There was a well-marked, k rge

varicose vein visible. A W* ai,y sharp corner would have caused the rupture of the vein, for instance, a- fall against the fender produced l a Court. OTHER EVIDENCE. Alfred Ernest Baxter disclaimed any connection with the concerned in tbe case. He said that ho was a chemist at the corner of Durham and Victoria Streets, and on February 20 accused called at his shop. Ho said that a woman had burst a varicose vein, and he wanted to know if witness could do anything. Accused explained that there had been a bit of a squabble, and his mother had received a blow. A girl then came in and said “God!, Alec, your mother's dead! To think it should have led to this!” Witness rang up Dr Newton. Nellie Thompson, daughter of the de--ceased, said that. on February 20 she wont home at 4 p.m. Her, mother . was' in good health. She loft at ten minutes to five. At 7.20 p.m. she received a telephone message to go home, and obeyed the summons. She found her mother dead. William Baxter had been living for about two years with witness’s mother, who was separated from her husband three years ago. STATEMENT OF DECEASED’S LITTLE SON. William Henry John Thompson, aged nine years, son of the deceased, said that he knew William Barter. Witness was sitting in tho dining-room with Baxter, his brother and his' 1 mother on February 20. His brother went to hit Baxter, and his mother got in between, and was struck by his brother.. She fell, and began to cry. Baxter picked her up and took her around the back. Witness followed and saw his brother, bis little sister, Baxter and his mother. His mother was standing by the bathroom, and isked Baxter to bring her -something. Baxter brought her a glass of water.

Continuing, the witness said, in answer to a question of Air Cassidy’s, that Baxter took witness to his room later and said,- “Tell them that. Alec gave mamma a clout and knocked her down.” This was not correct, however. Witness did not know whom Baxter meant by “them.” No one else spoke to witness about the matter. BAXTER’S EVIDENCE.

- William Baxter, a labourer, said that lie had been living at 329, Durham Street, a month before the tragedy, and bad been the mam . support of the house. On February 20 ho found that the laces had vanished from his boots, and asked their .whereabouts of Mrs Thompson. She-said that she had taken them, and given one to the little boy and one to herself. The accused came in and said, “ I’ll buy you a pair of laces if you want a pair.” The mother said, “Don’t make a noise about a pair of laces.” Witness sat down and was going to have liis tea, and accused persisted in using .bad language. Witness arose, and accused knocked him down. Witness got up and said, “ What's the use of using such infernal language about a thing like this?” The mother said soinething jvhich.witness did not catch, and accused turned around’ and hit her in-the face and knocked her down. The two little ones were present-all the time, and accused went over to the little hoy and ’ifted his foot to kick him, hut. refrained, because they were crying. Then he _ knocked his mother doifn again on the fender. He was slightly inebriated at the time. Then witness picked.the deceased up and went to the back to wash Iter .facev B 'lfef'nose and mouth‘were bleeding. -Witness;Jjrbujjit*; her into tbe bathroom then. She Would insist ou sneaking to accused and he knocked her down again. Witness did not think the thing was so serious, and went to get the teapot to make himself some tea, when, hearing continuous swearing, he left ihe teapot and went- out to the back again. The .mother; sqid,“ What’s the . good' of kicking tip shell a fuiSs, my!'son,'ab'oUt' a pair of laces?”',''!' ''. ” r Continuing, tho witness said that the accused knocked her down again, on a packing-case,-near the scullery door, Witness picked her up, and. noticing how she was bleeding, took her to the bath room and asked if -he could wash her. She said, “ T don’t think so.” Witness showed accused tlie blood' running down her leg and said, “I think you-ve-dono-Tor-your poor mother now.” Accused made-no answer and walked away. Witness carried the deceased into the scullery. Witness went for Dr Sandstein. who could not, come, and he upturned, home and found Dr - Newton tliore. Airs Thompson was almost dead.

To Mr.Cassidy: Immediately before coming to New Zealand witness came from Queensland, the, last town lie bad been in being Bimdaberg.''This was thirteen years ago. “ SPLASHED SPOTS OF BLOOD. Henry George Hunt.- detective-ser-geant, said that on February 20 last be went to the house of Airs. Thompson. Shortly after arriving he removed the body to the Aiorgoc. Ho then examined the dining-room' and found the fender produced at .the .corner nearest tlie door. One end was broken a-nd .there were sevhn spots of blob,d .close to the edge. There were traces of blood from the fender to the front door. On the front doorstep were two spots with splashes''on them, and along the path and up the side to tlie tap were fourteen spots of blood witli splashes around them.- Witness took possession of the case produced, from the tap and also the fender. The clothing was saturated with blood and dirt. This concluded tho ease for the prosecution.

COMMITTED ..FOR TRIAL. The accused pleaded not, guilty, reserved his defence, and was committed for trial. Bail’was allowed, the accused in £IOO and one surety of £IOO.