WOMAN CHARGED WITH MURDER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8481, 16 July 1913, Page 4

WOMAN CHARGED WITH MURDER

STORY OF QUARREL WITH A FATAL TERMINATION. ACCIDENT OR CRIME. LONDON, May 18. Mau-do Johnson, alias Drown, a middle-aged woman, was brought before Mr R. A. Lockett, at Liverpool Police Court, charged with the wilful murder of Thomas Drown, a coltou porter, on April 26th, at 2, Mansfield street. At the inquest last week a verdict of manslaughter was returned, but the police now proceeded with the capital charge. The prisoner, contrary to her demeanour at the inquest, now followed the evidence eagerly, ana at the conclusion of the testimony of i neighbour named Agnes Wilson, she exclaimed, “She’s telling lies, and then burst into tears. Mr Duder, recounting the sord.d story, stated that on the date mentioned, about four o’clock in the afternoon, Brown came home and went upstairs to the room he occupied will) the prisoner. Soon afterwards the woman came down followed by the man He was observed to be bleeding tror.i a wound on tho chest, and he collapsed at tho bottom of the stairs. Dr Dewar was called, but tbe man died shortly afterwards. Prisoner was then arrestMrs Wilson deposed to seeing tbe couple together, apparently quarre;Hng. Then she noticed Brown fold his arms and fall against the wall. Be was bleeding from a wound m tbe chest Witness cried, ‘Oh, Sirs Brown 1 What have you done? What did you do it for?” Prisoner replied, ‘‘Never mind what I have done. She added that the man had called her a foul name. Brown was wearing abe t at the time, and in it at the left side ho had a cotton-hook. . Mrs Williamson, who also lived in the house, stated that- Mrs Brown toot the belt and cotton-hook from the deceased. Prisoner afterwards said that the man fell upon his cotton-hook. A Mrs Wain wright gave similar evidence, stating that prisoner told her that Brown struck at her, and overbalancing himself, fell upon the hook. Witness subsequently told prisoner that Brown was dead, and asked her who had done it. Prisoner, raisins; her hands to her chest, exclaimed, i did it.” A witness named Sarah Fitzpatrick said she saw prisoner kneel beside Brown, and ask, “Did I do it, darling?” and the man replied, No. When Brown was laid on the boo be put his arms round prisoner’s neck and pulled her face to his. A constable gave evidence that on being summoned to the house he found Brown lying on the bed, with a cleancut wound on the loft chest. In answer to his inquiry prisoner said My husband came in very drunk, and tqil on the cotton-hook.” Witness found the hook produced on a table, and tne sheath knife on another table. Detective Southey stated that prisoner told him that deceased had used bad language to her, and, making a blow at her, fell on the hook. Prisoner was committed for trial at the assizes.