AFTER MANY YEARS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 April 1924, Page 1

AFTER MANY YEARS.

A DRAAIATIC INCIDENT IN GUNNEDAH, AUSTRALIA.

(“Gtiniicdah Advertiser” Sept. 11) The screening in Cun Kedah on Saturday, September 9th, of “The Alan They Could Not Hang,” .a photo-drama which is taken from the life of John Lee, received sensational endorsements, tiic School of Arts being packed to the doors. Among the audience was a man named John Hodge, who, as he subsequently stated to the management, was one of John Lee’s old pals of 185.5. Hodge said: “At the time of the murder John Lee was a lad of 19, working as a footman at tile country house of •Miss Keyse, a well-to-do maiden lady residing at Torquay. At this particular time I was an apprentice at Strange’s, butcher, 34 Queen Street, Newton Abbott*. On returning home one evening 1 was informed that my old pal Jack had been accused of murdering liis mistress. The news dumbfounded me; I couldn’t possibly believe it. Ho was tried at Exeter Assizes before. Lord Coleridge and Sir* I’. Northcote (father of the first Gover-nor-General of Australia), found guilty on circumstantial evidence, and sentenced to death by hanging. He said, while protesting his innocence: M. do not look to you for mercy, but One above will protect me.’ The execution was to take place a fortnight later, during which I used to pass Air Lee’s

cottage on my round every morning, i'he poor old people were brokenhearted ; Jack was their only son. The sentence startled the whole of Devonshire. The topic of conversation was nothing hut John Lee; but the extraordinary occurrence was this: I said to my boss, whose name was Jim Alallot! : ‘Something seems to tell me that young Jack Lee won’t he hanged.’ lie smiled at the boyish remark, replying, 'Fd like to make a wager on it, my bov.’ Well. I was Unit certain tiYiit I said, ‘Rigid,’ and took up the hot of a pound to a shilling. On (lie morning that Jack was to lie hanged 1 was sent to Air Keniloll’s at Netberington Estate, alter Leu sheep, I can remember it as though it happened yesterday. As I was coming back, crossing the railway bridge at Newton Abbott, the first thing I heard was the newspaper hoy crying out, ‘A great extraordinarv -John 1 /0e can’t he hanged.’ I was so excited that 1 forgot all about the ■sheep and rushed for a paper. Vou can hot 1 read it in double-quick time.

It was glorious news for me, news of poor Jack. I made for home as fast as I could. When I reached the shop I was out of breath. 1 said, ‘Boss, you owe me a guinea.’ He looked at me in a surprised fashion, exclaiming, ‘What for?’ I replied excitedly, ‘They couldn’t hang Jack Lee,’ and handed him the paper. He just- glanced at it, and stared at me. Then he handed mo. a guinea from the till, and said, ‘There boy, you’ve won, and I’m real glad of it.’ ” Air John Hodge, the relator of the story, is still in the butchering businness, and residing in Barber Lane, Gunnedah. The picture of this wonderful event will he screened at the I'rincses Theatre on Thursday next.