Eccentric Defendant.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 January 1923, Page 4

Eccentric Defendant.

■ TWO SI‘I HITS IN ONK BOO'. ■ \r. NI.ANO. January If. i,, cxtraoidimiry scene "as ivitnessed in th- llamiltm. 1N.1i.-t* C* v ! „.„ an eccentric woman. « ; l '” tt immigrant. charged with opening a m.-tal | :iekag.“. esn-huc ■ decided tendency to turn «he «> j into a spiritualist meeting, .dm tamed Wil.llv of spirits and of mciium-. and it appeared that she was under m impretsion that she had two spint in one body. The woman, who rn - ried about with her a co..«.dernWc number of clmnus and symbols including a- twin brooch supposed to he -vinbolical of her twin spirits gave the name of Isabella Oeddts I boonson while her “second spirit s name v .,_, [.;p.,lp Shewn Thompson. When first questimied by the police. _ she had given the name of spirit No but in the witness box she appeared as odd is . \censed kept up a running fire "f questions, all relating to spiritualism, the Court officials vainly attempting to soothe her and to cheek the further expression of her strange ideas. She demanded indignantly to know whet)„,r “Isabella (,'edilis Thompson" or “Isabella Shewn Thompson” was ben 1 -' charged, as for what one s»int did rbe other could not be held responsible. Tt appeared from the evidence that a letter arrived ill the neighbour--1 of Greenwood street, where accused resided, addressed to a man named Johnston, who v.flt staying in a boarding-house situated in the same street. Apparently the letter was not left ; ,t the hoarding-house, and it fincllv reached Mrs Thoiunson. '"lie opened the letter and marked on it “Opened by Isabella Thompson." and took the letter to the hoarding-house. where its rightful owner was staying. For the defence it was contended that the loiter in question had been left at another hoarding-house adjoin-

iug tin? accused's house, lie landlady j of the second hoarding-house handed j the letter over the fence to Alt's j Thompson, thinking that it was for , her. Airs Thompson was expecting some friends out li'Om the Old f oun- j trv hy the name ol Johnson, and she thought that the letter was lor them. Being on intimate terms with them she considered herself quite within ln-r her lights in opining it. She could have no motive for dishonesty, as she had promptly taken the letter hack. In addressing the Bench oil accused's ■ behalf, Air Tompkins stated that Alls : Thompson could not be hold respon- ’ sihle. Accused pleaded not guilty reserved her defence, and was committed > to the Supreme Court for trial.