DOUBLE TRAGEDY AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13889, 29 April 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

DOUBLE TRAGEDY AT CHRISTCHURCH.

CHRISTCHURCH, April 5. A double tragedy occurred! hero late tonight. A man named Smithcrs, living iu Durham street, went to where a woman named Jackson was living, and first of all but her throat with a razor and afterwards gashed his own.

Jealousy is understood to be the cause of tho outrage.

The woman was removed to the hospital, and at midnight her condition was so serious that it was decided' to take her dying depositions. The nan was not so seriously injured, for ho broke the razor in tho attack on tho woman, and did not cut his own throat to tho extent he would have dono had the razor been undamaged. THE WOMAN'S STATEMENT. . . , l CHJUSTCIiuRCII, April 6. Last night y when it was reported that the woman was m a dying condition her depositions were taken in open court in "the operating: room before Mr H. W. Bishop in the presence of the accused, who was charged with attempted ' murder, Mrs Jackson said'" Mv lawful namd is Nellie .lackson. I knew tho accused by the name °' " amcs Smithers. I aw a married joman, but don't know whether nijr husband is alive or dead. 1 belong to Melbourne, but have been in New Zealand for some time. I have l>een living with the accused as his wif<\ since August last in Christchurch, but wo separated I so out to work hy the clay. The accused does no work. He lias waylaid me in the street, and he hns come round In where I'live in Antigua street. Ho used to conic round and annoy me. I spent the day with, him at Lvttelton. "Wo went to Sumner this evening and returned to Christchiirch just as the hotels were closing. I said 1 Good to the accusal at the Crown Hojel. Ho knockod rnc down oh the footpath itoar the Crown Hotel. He struck mo with his fist- first .and then held mo on tho footpath

and started to cut my throat with a razor. He said lie was going to ecttlc mo, and that ho would dio with me; I saw tho accused fall back on r.lio footpath. My present injuries by him. No one was present. I think ho was .icalous of mei Wo had no row previously." Smithers is still on renmwl on the chargo of, attempted murder.