THE CHRISTCHURCH TRAGEDY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8392, 8 April 1907, Page 5

THE CHRISTCHURCH TRAGEDY.

By Telegraph —Press Association,

CHRISTCHURCH, April 6. When enquiries were made at the Hospital, to-day, in connection with the attempted murder and suicide, which occurred last night, a reporter was informed that, though Mrs Jackson's condition was still critical, she was progressing as well as could be expected. Further details show that Mrs Jackson had been boarding for some time at a cottage in Antigua Street and had been going out to work by the day. The people of the house saw nothing of her after she went, out yesterday morning, and they supposed that she was going to work as usual. She had frequently com- •■ plained to other people and the police of the behaviour of Smithers, who had waylaid her in the street. He had often asked her for money, and she is believed to have given him money to pay hio hoard at different times. Smithers had been living at a boarding-house in-' Durham Street for nearly three weeks, and was supposed to be looking for work. He is alleged not to have paid for his board. He is a blacksmith by trade, and was at one time in the employ of Messrs Scott Bros., Christchurch. i He is said to be a native of Sydney. When the tragedy occurred, last night, the shrieks of the woman aroused the people of the neighbouring houses, but so quickly did the police reach the scene, that the residents, realising that there was no need for their services, contented themselves, for the most part, with watching the proceedings from their doors and ' windows. The blade of the razor used by Smithers broke in his hand, and he threw away a portion. This was the object of a long and a careful search, and was found this morning by Detective Ward. Mrs Jackson, in her depositions, said that she was a married woman, and came from Melbourne in August. She had been living 'with Smithers here. The cause of the attack was jealousy. There had been no row previously.