THE CHRISTCHURCH TRAGEDY

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8782, 9 April 1907, Page 2

THE CHRISTCHURCH TRAGEDY

On Friday night, when it was reported that the woman was in a dying condition her depositions wore taken in open court in the operating room, beforo Mr 11. W. Bishop, S.M., in tho presence of tho accused, who was charged with attempted murder. Mrs Jackson said: —

"My lawful name is Nellie Jackson. I know the accused by the name of James Smithers. lam a married woman, but don't know whether my husband is alivo or dead. I belong to Melbourne, but havo been in Now Zealand for soino time. I havo been living with the ac cusod as his wife since August last in Christchurch, but we separated. I go out to work by the day. Tlio accused does no work. He has waylaid me in the street. Ho has come round to whero I livo in Antigua-street. lie used to come round and annoy me. I spent tho day with him at Lyttelton. We went to Sumnor this evening, and returned to Christchurch just as tho hotels wero closing. I said 'Good-night' to tho accused at the Crown Hotel. He knocked mo down on the footpath near the Crown Hotel. He struck me with his fist first, and then held mo on tho footpath, and then started to cut my throat with a razor. Ho said that ho was going to settlo me, and that he would die with me. I then saw tho accused fall on his j back on tho footpath. My present in--1 juries were inflicted by him. No oiw I was present. I think he was jealous of: J mo. Wo had no row previously," .