RETFORD WIDOW ACCUSED OF MANSLAUGHTER
Catherine Hatcliffe (44), widow, of East Retford, pleaded “Not guilty” at Notts. Assizes yesterday when charged with the manslaughter of Frances May Thompson on 19 January and with using an instrument for an illegal purpose.
Mr. C. Gallop, for the prosecution, said the dead woman was the wife of a quarryman at Mattersey [George Leslie Thompson (1908-1973)].
Last November a man named Turner talked with Mrs. Thompson and later said to accused: “Can you do anything for her?” The answer was “Yes. It will be £3.”
The man Turner had said that accused called at his house at 1.20 p.m. on 19 January and said ‘she had done the job.’
Mr. Thompson had said that accused called at the house and went into an inner room with his wife. Later the two went upstairs.
FOUND HER DEAD
The accused shouted for some water and he took it up. She then told him to get a doctor and some whisky. When he asked accused her name she said “Mrs. Dobson.”
Eventually he left the house and a Dr. Thompson arrived between 12.30 and 1 o’clock. He found Mrs. Thompson dead. Her appearance suggested that she had died from shock.
Seen by the police, the accused said she had never been to Mattersey in her life and did not know anyone who lived there. She said she had been to Nottingham when questioned about her movements on the day of Mrs. Thompson’s death.
The hearing was adjourned until to-day.
(Nottingham Journal, 28th June 1940)
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