SEA CAPTAIN’S LOVE.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1922, Page 10

SEA CAPTAIN’S LOVE.

OLD WOMAN MURDERED. A HOBART TRAGEDY. Sydney. Dec. I. The death of Matilda. Jane Jackson, aged r 6O, at Hobart recently, is alleged to have been brought about in an endeavor by a sea captain to win back the affections of his ladylove after the engagement had been broken off for the ninth time because of a trifling lovers’ quarrel. Marion Jackson, the daughter, came home and found her mother on a couch [dead. Her hands and feet were tied with a rope. A wet cloth was lying on her throat, and a flask half-filled with brandy was on the floor beside the couch. The face was neatly covered with a counterpane. The daughter had been engaged on several occasions to William Henry Victor Waterson who was in Court in custody. The morning after she had found her mother dead, according to the evidence at the Coroner’s inquiry, Marion Jackson received a letter from Waterson in his own handwriting, dated the previous afternoon, couched in affectionate terms, detailing his movements on the day of the murder, and expressing his intention of visiting her and her dear mother there on the following afternoon. Tn a long statement, which was read to the Court, Waterson denied anv connection with the crime, and said that the last time his engagement to Dorothy Jackson had been broken off was because of a dispute over a song called “Memories.” He admitted sitting on the grass in the reserve near Jackson’s house on the afternoon of the tragedy with another man. Thomas Richard McDonald, who shared the same bedroom with Vvaterson, said that Waterson had stated that he loved the girl and he wanted to win her love. Waterson had asked McDonald if he would go to Mrs. Jackson's house and place a coat over the old lady, and also tie her legs and arm*?/ Waterson then said that lie wanted the old lady carried into the bedroom. He. told Waterson that he refused to he a party to the scheme, and he then offered him" £7O if he would go and do the job. McDonald refused, and at Pillinger Street, near the bridge, Waterson tried to push him through Mrs. Jackson’s gate. Waterson then said that on account of McDonald’s refusal he would shoot him. and accused then placed his hand in his hip pocket as if he intended to draw out a firearm. Waterson said that after Mrs. Jackson had been bound it was his (Waterson’s) intention to bind the girl to the bed and then seduce her. Waterson said that was the only wav he could win her love. On the Tuesday evening before the tragedy Waterson asked McDonald to take him to the Sailors’ Rest. Waterson’s reason was to get a man to do the job as he (McDonald) had refused. Waterson was committed for trial on a charge of having aided and abetted the death of Mrs. Jackson.