ECHO OF A SENSATIONAL CRIMEA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 230, 23 June 1919, Page 5

ECHO OF A SENSATIONAL CRIMEA

e Horace Rayner, who was convioted at the Contral Criminal Court in Maroh, 1907, for the murder of Mr. William ■Whiteley, the famous "universal provider," at tho great departmental stores in Westbourno Grove, was recently released, on tho ground of ill-health, from Parkhnrst Prison, Isle of "Wight. Bayner has spent the greater part of his term pf twelve years' penal servitude at ParkThe murder was one of the most sensational in London's criminal records. On January 24, 1907, Rayner gained admission to"Mr. Whitoley'e ofhee and made a request that ho should be given employment. Wlion the young man produced a rovoker and threatened to commit suicide Mr. Whiteley sent for the police Thereupon Rayner shot him dead and then turned the weapon upon himself. He injured one of his eye. but recovered from the wound in hospital. At tho trial before the late.lord Chief Justice the theory of impulsive insanity was offered in defence, but. the prisoner was found guilty. In passing sentence Lord Akerltone held out no hope "that tta sentence will not bo earned into SO the then Home Secretary (Mr Herbert Gladetone-now Viscount Gladstone) commuted the sentence to one of penal servitude for Me.