AFTER 18 YEARS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 16 November 1927, Page 5

AFTER 18 YEARS

OSCAR SLATER RELEASED.

NOT SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT CASE AT PRESENT.

(Received 16. 9.40 a.m.) London, Nov. 15.

Oscar Slater was released from Peterhead Prison. He declared that he was not saying anything about the case at present. He had friends who believed in him and he would try their faith, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald stated that he hoped the authorities would recognise the unsatisfactory state in which the matter was left and grant an inquiry into it.—(A.P.A. and “Sun” cable.)

Oscar Slater was convicted of the murder of Marion Gilchrist, at her home in West Princes street Glasgow. on December 21. 1908. Miss Gilchrist was a spinster, aged 82. and possessed much valuable iewelle*y. On the description of Miss Gilchrist’s maid of a man seen in the neighbourhood. Slater was looked for and was found to' have sailed on the Lusitania for America. He was extradited and brought home. The only direct evidence against Slater was that of a servant and two other residents of the building that Slater was seen to leave the house and walk along the street. All said he was clean-shaven whereas it was proved that a day or two after the murder Slater had a moustache. The jury returned a verdjet of guiltv by 9 votes to 6 and Slater was condemned to death, but later. »<n the presentation of a petition signed by 20,(XX) names, he was reprieved and sentenced to imprisonment for life.. Many prominent men, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, have worked to secure Slater’s release, being convinced of his innocence. INQUIRY SOUGHT. (Received 16. 11.35 a.m.) London, November 15. In the House of Commons, asked whether he intended to institute un inquiry into the Oscar Slater case. Sir John Gilmour, Secretary for Scotland, replied that if conviction had occurred since October 1926 he would have been empowered to submit it to the Court of Criminal Appeal. He was willing, if necessary, to make such legislation obtainable refer only to the Slater case. Only a singleclause bill would be necessary, but it could not be passed at the present session except without discussion. The Government would welcome any effort in this direction.—(A and N.Z.) '