Thomson Murder

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1922, Page 3

Thomson Murder

TRIAL COMMENCES. this day sit 1d.31) u.m , LONDON, December 0. Amazing scenes marked t-o commencement of the trial oi Jiywaters and Mrs Tiioinson at Old Bailey. l"o women who reached the Court at loin o’clock in the morning led a l-»ug queue. There were more people than could he accommodated at eight o’clock, hater, a big crowd besieged the main entrance, and another awaited the arrival of the prison van. The queue was equally composed of men and women, and included gills in their teens and grey headed women, Mr Inskip led the prosecution aifd the jury inch d.d one women. The Judge ruled the letters to which the defence objected, were admissible.

M I’U DER I'll) CITY CLERK. LONDON, Oet. 9. A dramatic development in connection with the mysterious murder of Mr Percy Thompson, who lived at The I’.etreai, 11, Kensington-gardens, llfoi'd, and who was stabbed to death in llelgriive-road, Ilford, about 12.30 on Wednesday morning, took place last evening. . . . Kdith Thompson, wife of the ueail man, and Frederick Bywaters, 20, a ship’s steward, of Westow-street, Upper Norwood, S.E., were jointly charged with the murder. They will be iT-nught up at Stratford Petty Sessions this morning. During yesterday both made statements to the police. The ease is one of extraordinary in-

terest. and it is understood that evidence of a remarkable character will he given. . , , Mrs Thompson was with tier Inis)valid when, in response to her cries, passers-by found him in a crouching position on the pavement in Belgraveroad, about a hundred yards from tho house, with his back to the wall. He

had been stabbed about a dozen times, the fatal injury being the severance ol the jugular vein. At first it was thought that the man ball died of internal haemorrhage, and it was not until after his body had been taken to the mortuary that the wounds in his neck and on the head weie found. After the removal of her bu-haml’s body -Mrs Thompson, who was described as being in a state of great distress, walked to her home. At 10.30 in the morning detectives went to the house and asked Jf.rs Thompson to accompany them to the police station. Shortly after midnight the young man Bywaters was asked to go to the station. It is stated that Bywaters was a friend of the Thompsons, and that he first met them while on a holiday at a seaside resort.