RAVENSBOURNE MURDER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22834, 19 March 1936, Page 7

RAVENSBOURNE MURDER

ACCUSED IN COURT COMMITTED FOR TRIAL ASSAULT WITH AXE ADMITTED Stanley Davidson, charged with the murder of his father and mother at Ravensbourne on February 25, appeared in the City Police Court yesterday morning before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. The magistrate intimated that coronial proceedings concerning the death of the victims of the tragedy, Thomas Davidson and Agnes M'lntosli Davidson, would be held over until after the Supreme Court sessions to which the accused had been committed. Barely an hour after his appearance in the dock the 23-year-old accused was returned to the cells pending his return to the Seacliff Mental Hospital, where he will remain until the opening of the Supreme Court sessions on May 4. Eight witnesses were heard, including a next-door neighbour, who saw the tragedy, the accused's brother, and three detectives. Chief Detective Young prosecuted, and Mr W. F. Forrester appeared for the accused.

The accused gave no visible sign of concern when the charges of murder were read against him, and remained unperturbed throughout the proceedings, even when his own admission, " I slogged them with an axe—just temper —they were nagging a man," was quoted against him.

Dr D'Ath, pathologist, said that, acting on police instructions, he' examined the bodies at the Davidson residence on the day of the crime. He found the body of Thomas Davidson lying, fully clothed, across the threshold of the' back door, face downward, and with the left elbow acutely flexed, just on the outer side of the doorstep. He found the body of Agnes M'lntosh Davidson lying, fully clothed, on the back path, with the feet just touching the angle of the house nearest the back door. The face lay downward, the left arm was lying by the side, and the right arm was doubled underneath the body. In both cases there were several deep gashes in the back of the head through the skull, exposing the brain. From postmortem examinations witness was of the opinion that the deceased both died from extensive cerebral laceration, the result of injuries inflicted with a tomahawk found at the scene of the crime.

Francis Stothart Little, surveyor, produced plans of the section and house where the murder was committed.

William Downie Davidson, brother of the accused, said he last saw his parents alive at 8.20 a.m. on February 25. When he and his sister left for work the only occupants of the house were his parents and the accused. The latter was in bed but awake, and he appeared to be in the best of spirits. A small tomahawk, produced, was identified by witness, as also were several sketches, which were the work of witness's youngest brother.

Margaret Meikle Dowall, the Davidsons' next-door neighbour, said she went out to call her two children, who were playing in the Davidsons' yard. Before they reached her she heard Mrs Davidson scream, and then saw her running towards the hedge, arms outstretched and with blood on her left forearm. Mr Davidson was lying face downward at the back door, and the accused was hitting him on the head with an axe. Witness called out to Mrs Davidson, but she turned and went to her husband's assistance. That was the last witness saw before she went for help herself. William Connor, town clerk of the borough of West Harbour, gave evidence of finding the bodies and communicating with the police. To Mr Forrester he said he did not examine the bodies to see if the victims were dead as it was obvious to anyone of ordinary intelligence that both were dead.

Chief Detective Young said, in evidence, that as a result of a telephone call received from Mr Connor at 11.30 he went to the Davidson home. On approaching the veranda he observed the accused sitting looking out of a front room window. The front door was open and witness entered the sitting room, making his identity known and inquiring what had happened. The accused replied: " I slogged them with an axe." The reason given was: " Just temper. They were nagging a man." When asked when it happened he said: " Just now." After running his hands over the accused to see if he were armed, witness left him in the charge of two constables and went through to the back of the house. In the breakfast room there was evidence of a struggle having taken place, arid blood-stained papers were scattered about the floor. A broken pipe bowl rested on the tabic, and the stem was on the floor. In the adjoining scullery the body of a man was lying face down on the floor, with his head just outside the door, as described by Dr D'Ath. In the back yard, lying on the path leading to the front of the house, the body of Mrs Davidson was found. Photographs showing the position of the bodies were produced. Underneath a small scat on the back porch of the house witness noticed n bloodstained tomahawk with hair attached to it. Returning to the sitting room witness put further questions to the accused, who said the deceased were his parents. Witness told him they were dead nnd asked what he had done to them. His reply was: "An axe. It's under a bench out at the back." The accused later identified the nxe. The accused's clothes were bloodstained, but his hands were clean. Bloodstained water was found in a bnsin in the scullery. Detectives Le Sueur nnd Wells give corroborative evidence, and also testified to the conveyance of the bodies to the Morgue and the charging of the accused.

At the conclusion of the evidence the magistrate committed the accused for trial.