A CALLOUS CRIMINAL

Evening Star, Issue 22465, 9 October 1936, Page 5

A CALLOUS CRIMINAL

AFTER ALLEGED MURDER When a young man appeared before the Sunderland magistrates charged with murder, it was stated that after the alleged crime he returned to his lodgings several miles away, bathed, and changed his clothing, put on the wireless, and then proceeded to entertain some young women by showing 'card tricks. The young man, Christopher Jackson, 23, of King street, Rotherham, who was lodging at Chesterle street, was committed for trial, charged with having murdered his aunt,, Mrs Harriet Linney, 61, of Hetton street, Sunderland. Jackson appeared calm and collected, and listened to the proceedings attentively. As he left the dock a woman in black shouted from the back of the court, “ God help you, son.” Conducting the case of the Crown, Mr E. G. Robey stated Mrs Linney carried on a bookmaker's business, and the takings were from £5 to £2O a day, mostly silver. On May 29, went on Mr Robey, Jackson went to lodge at Front street, Chestcr-le street. On June 2< he borrowed money, and on June, 30, the dav of the alleged crime, he borrowed 2s 6d from Mr Harold Butler, stating that he wanted to go to Catterick to draw some Army pay. Jackson left his lodgings about 5.30 that afternoon, and about 6 o’clock Mrs Hall, who lived opposite Mrs Linney’s house in Hetton street, saw a tall man admitted to the house by Mrs Linnev. Shortly after 8 o’clock Mrs Dunn, finding Mrs Linney’s back door open, investigated, and Mrs Linney was found dead in the kitchen with her head terribly injured. A poker and some broken pieces of glass were near the body, and drawers appeared to have been ransacked. About 20 minutes to 9 Jackson was seen in a Sunderland-to-Chester-le street bus by a Miss Ann Batey, who knew Jackson quite well. About 9 o’clock on the night of June 30 Jackson arrived at his lodgings wearing his raincoat, buttoned up to the neck, although it was a mild evening. Making some remark about wanting a cold bath, he got his suitcase, and with this and a clean shirt and trousers, went into an outhouse in the yard, where he bathed and changed. Jackson paid his landlady money ho owed her for board and lodgings, and refunded the 2s 6d he borrowed from Mr Butler, and also 2s he had borrowed from Miss Elsie Bainbridge. The next day Superintendent G. Cook found a suitcase which contained bloodstained clothing and £9 13s 4d, mostly in silver, under the bed in Jackson’s lodgings. When asked to give an account of his movements on the previous evening, added Mr Robey, Jackson made a statement, which he signed. Superintendent Cook read a statement alleged to have been made by Jackson, in which he said he asked his aunt for money. “ She said I wasn’t worth any help.” went on the alleged statement, “ and she called me some names, and I lost my temper and struck her. I hit her with my hands first, then struck her with the bottle. I had a look round. I got the money and I came out. I came back to Chester-le street. That is all I want to say.”

Jackson, who pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence.