Bridlington and Quay Gazette. — 1899-04-07 (Bridlington, Humberside, England)

IFK MURDER.  KISSING NIS WIFIV4 DEAD BODY.  At the Maochester County Pollee Courts John Percy Thompson 25, of 31, Darnley Street, Old Trafford, described es an electrical engineer, has been charged with the murder of his wife Catherine by shooting her with a revolver. Mr. Bent said that prisoner was married to the deceased in 1896. rhey did not live happily. The prisoner kept going away, but bad sent his . wife money About three months ago they quarrelled Slid parted, and it was not until Satordas last that they agreed to go together again. They took the house in Old Trafford, the rent at .which NM 10s. About midnight on Monday prisonet and his wife retired to rest, and shortly afterwards a woman who lodged with them heard them quarrelling, but did not think much about it at the time.; Some time afterwards she was aroused by a thud on the bed room floor. Immediately the prisoner came down and asked her to go and fetch a doctor. She did so, and afterwards, went for a policeman. The officer found prisoner sitting in the kitchen nursing the child, i who s fourteen months old. Inspector Crossley, who subsequently came on the scene, found that three pillows were placed under thel head of deceased. The bottom one was saturated with blood. The second one was comparatively clean, and on the top was another pilldw, *hid] was smeared with blood. The body as also covered up. It mnst have taken some 'Mtle tithe on the part of prisoner to do this before going downstairs to tell the lodger. A revolver, with five chambers undischarged, was found in the room.-Prisoner, who wished to go into the witnesibbox was reminded. I Miss Catherine Fay, the lodger, who occupied the kitchen—most of the rooms in the house were unfurnished—has made a statement, in which she says that Mrs. Thompson was afraid of her husband, who had frequently beaten her. Describing the events of the night, Miss Fay says she was aroused about two o'clock by a heavy fall on the floor of the prisoner's bed room. The prisoner came running downstairs imusedi-, ately, aid said, " My God, run for a doctor.' Miss Fily asked what was the matter, and the prisoner replied, "Run, there is no time to be lost." She accordingly went for medical aid, and returning to the house she saw the deceased lying on the floor, with blood running from her head. The prisoner was lying beside her, kissing her. Miss Fay asked him what lie had done to her, and be replied, "Don't ask me." She did not hear the shot fired.  NARROW ESCAPE FROM SUFFOCATION  The other day two young men from the country had a narrow escape from suffocation in a Glasgow hotel. They engaged a bed in a temperance hotel, in Brunswick Street. After attending the performance at one of the theatres, they went to bed Ithout eleven o'clock. At noon the following day a servant knocked at the door of their room to tell them that if they did not get up they would be eharged for another night's lodging. She reeyived no answer, and, hearing a stertorous suoriog, called a waiter, who forced open the door. There was a strong smell of gas, and both the young men were lying insensible itt lied. They were at once removed to the It•tyal Infirmary, where they were restored to consciousness. On examination it was ronnd that the tap of the gas bracket, MI which there was 110 t a stop, had been accidentally opened altar the light was put out.