WAIKOMITI TRAGEDY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3193, 10 December 1892, Page 2

WAIKOMITI TRAGEDY.

(BY TKLKGKAPH.—OWN' CORKKSPONDKNT;. Auckland, Last Night. At the Police Court to-day, Alexander James Scott was charged with the wilful murder of William Thompson. Mr Tole, Crown Prosecutor, in opening the case, said, as there was a largo mass of evidence calculated to occupy tlio Court some days, it was needless for him at any length to discuss the evidence which would be adduced. He would simply refer to some important points. William Thompson died on the evening of thu or the morning of the 31*t of October this year, under circumstances which were very peculiar and apparently very suspicious. Accused had been living in the house with deceased for five or six weeks prior to his death, and had personally attended upon deceased. About midnight on the 30th, or early on the 31st, accused went to Dr. Robertson, who lived in the environs of the city, some miles away from Waikomiti. Accused stated that he believed Thompson had died, and fjrtber said he believed Thompson had done for himself by poisoning. The doctor went out and found that Thompson had been dead seven or ten hours. Accused was acquainted with deceased for ten months, living about 300 yards away. Evidence would also be adduced showing that accused was acquainted with Mrs Thompson ; in fact, they would appear to have been on terms of relationship ot considerable and peculiar intimacy. It would also be shown that death resulted from poison, and accused had stated on his oath that he believed deceased had taken his own life, but beyond that there was no evidence that deceased had committed an act of self-destruction. It would be shown pretty clearly that poison had been wilfully administered, and the only point waa how far the accused was connected with the alleged crime. It would tie for His Worship to judge as to the prisoner's oppoitunities for administering the poison, and also as to his possible mctive for doing so. It would he shown that accused prescribed for deceased during the time he was in attendance, it would also be proved that accused had bought poison under an assumed name. Letters would also be put in, one signed Bertie, and it would be shown that when Mrs Thompson was in town accused visited her lodgings about the month of July. Mr Tole then referred to various points in the evidence after which evidence was called for the prosecution. Accused's sworn statement was put in. The uncle John Wilson repeated his former evidence and added that Scott had blistered a horse for deceased and that Sc >tt asked if letters had arrived for Bertie Scott. Witness said he would have no aliases. Cross-ex imined witness stated that he always considered Scott mentally weak. Saddles, bridles, and other things that he fancied would ba stowed away. Scott had not the control over himself that others had. William Carter repeated his fjrmer statement. Sometimes deceased seemed to have something on his mind during his illness and at others he was quite jolly again. He never heard him threatened to take his life. Both Scott and Thompson told witness that deceased had doctors' orders not to go to town. Once Scott called witness to look at Thompson when asleep and his whole body appeared to be working. The case was adjourned.