HIS MOTHER'S DEATH.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1993, 25 February 1914, Page 8

HIS MOTHER'S DEATH.

BLOWS & A. FALL,'

THE TRAGEDY IN CHRISTCHURCHI (By Telegraph.—Press 'Association.) ■' Chrlstchurch, February 24. Tho adjourned inquest into tho circumstances surrounding the death of tho lata. Hannah Thomson, tho victim of tho Durham Street tragedy, was continued this 'afternoon before tho Coroner (Mr. H. W. Bishop). Alexander Tliom- , eon, son of dcceasod, appeared in custody. Senior-Sergeant' Mathieson gave eyi-ct'-nco as to going to, tho houso in Dur- , — hanxi-Streot on Friday evening last. Thomson mado the following" statement to him :—"I am a labourer. My mother's Jiamo is Hannali.Thomson. I had an argument over some bootlaces with a raanfnamod Baxter, a labourer, who •lived' with my mother. Baxteir has been living..with my mother. The argument started over bootlaces. Baxter started dictating.to mo about my boots, and I Risked him what ho liad to do with ■nib. '; 1 -! camo downstairs, and 'asked him ■what ho meant, and ho started 'going crook' on me. Baxter made a strike at mo, and I started to defend myself, and Jmado a srnaok at him. I hit a. chair in plfipo of..hitting him, 1 and ho then tried t<J Svresrtlo with nip, and I again, mado jv smack'at TiTm. My mother stood in my road,- and received tho blow.-. Baxter, and my mother then went out. in the yard and washhouse. My "mother fell down when I struck her, and tho bloodstains on the floor came, from 'her when r.he.was? being.cirried-in. Her ago waß fi?tv years." '. -. William Baxtor, .labourer, after describing'the quarrel, said that Thomsons mother made somo'remark to her 'l who' began swearing, and gave her .jiow, on tho sido of tlio face, ant] knocked; her?down.,' .Witness ' was not within feet of Thomson at tho time, and bo the blow could not hare been meant for him. Ho was, in fact, three or four wards away: 'Mrs; Thomson'got "up, and her son .continued his bad language, and again hit his mother; knocking her down once more by tho fireplace. Slio fell on tlio'-?ender and ho afterwards noticed that her face'was bleeding. When witness brought Mrs. Thomson out of 'the (bathroom into;tlio;back yard, Thohison Baid: "You keep out of the road, inotherl That's the man I want!" His mother tried to pacify him, and said thkt there was nothing,' to quarrel about. Thomson replied, "Shut up, or I'll give you another clout." He; in fact, did hit iher .again, with his. hand,, and> onqo more knocked'her down'!'' This was iii tho y.ird. Witness picked ;lier up. He *'«s'<iot .think that slio was seriously siup£ and lie went inside' to 'get a'' tea-poi.Yt-o make tea./; Mrs; Thomson could stand by herself at that time. Witness again heard. '..Thomson.;-swearing at his mother, and. came.'out.-,, He.saw Thomson make another blow at his mother and.,,knock her-.down on" a, wooden.'case, : I and,he (witness):--then.jioticed furious Weeding.' Witness'took her'-'into the" fcathroom, and offered'to wash her,-but ■Mil, Thomson- said, "I don't think so."' showed Thomson, ."the. "blood which, was running down his .mothorY'leg, and sa i'l •'. '.'I. think you've -justUbojit "done for, your poor mother..now.'"-' -Thomson took, no" heed : of what witness said,/and nevpr answered. Mrs. • Thomson' died soon, after. The. Coroner returned a-verdict that 1 deceased, ; ' Hannah. Thomson, died from' • caused ; By tlio'rupture, of a. varicose-'vein,-diio to'falling against a sharp substance, the fall being, caused ■by 1 ;*, blow from her,son.-,. Abused repianded until Saturday, next. At tho conclusion of the.hearing . oF-aio' inquest, l a Miss' Wright, who is engaged to accused) fainted, and had to l>r<iattended to bv the officials of tho Courts . . ';. , , '. ; :