CRIMINAL MYSTERIES
THE LONG ARM OF THE LAW. Scotland Yard has declined to assist the Monmouthshire police to unravel the mystery of the death of Iris Watkins (states “A Criminologist'’ in the Daily Mail.). This unusual course has doubtless been taken on the best of grounds. The crime, if crime it be, —-and many competent persons have no hesitation in describing is as a case of murder—is more than twelve months old. All clues are cold, ami at this date there is little likelihood that the cleverest of detectives could elucidate the mystery. If there had been a national detective force in this country the pioblom would have been solved one way or another long ago. As it was, the Monmouthshire authorities declined to invite the assistance of Scotland Yard, and so, unless the unexpected Yard, and so, unless the unexpected happens, the death of this pretty young shop girl will forever be shrouded with mystery. On the other hand the mere lapse of time- does not bring a criminal immunity from punishment for his crime. Rolice annals are full of cases in which murderers have been brought to justice years after the slaying of tlieir victims. The tv m of the law is truly long—and it never wearies.
Probably the most notable example of recent years is George Joseph Smith, who became infamous as the husband in the “Brides in the liath’ ease. Smith murdered his hr sit victim by drowning her in a bath in 1912, but ft was not until three years later that he was arrested and i anged for his murders. Incidentally, the opinion has been expressed by no less an authority than Sir Bernard Spilsbury that if careful enquiry had been made into the earlier deaths caused by Smith his career of crime would have been cut short and the lives of two women at least saved- another argument for a national force. Dr. Oippin was another murderer who for months escaped the consequences of his crime. It was rot until six months after its commission that it was detected, rut then the laiv moved swiftly. ,
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Bibliographic details
Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10313, 24 January 1927, Page 8
Word Count
352CRIMINAL MYSTERIES Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10313, 24 January 1927, Page 8
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