AMUSEMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 April 1924, Page 1

AMUSEMENTS.

‘ THE MAN THEY COULD NOT HANG”—TO-NIGHT.

To-night ;it the Princess Theatre “The Lite Story of John Lee’’ or “The Man they could not Hang” will be presented for one night only. This wondo! ful picture lias caused a sensation nil over the world. Should a man he condemned to death upon circumstantial evidence? In the annals of English criminal law instances are to be found of wherp a person lias been convicted of'"a crime of which ho or she was innocent, and in some cases the conviction has carried with it the last dread penalty of the law by which the persons expiated the offence for which they were condemned to suffer. It is because of the danger that an innocent person might he unjustly found guilty that juries have so often refused to commit when the evidence was only circumstantial, although it has been shown in certain cases that the circumstantial evidence, or what is sometimes known as “best evidence,” was of such a nature, and the various links in the chain were so well connected, as to lead to the conclusion of the guilt of the accused person. Yet, although the chain of circumstantial evidence may seem so strong as to exclude all reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the person accused, yet cases are narrated in which, under such circumstances, accused persons who are innocent have been found guilty, and it was only after same years had elapsed that their innocence was established - sometimes too late—because in some eases the person had paid the extreme penalty of the law; At Inst the picture fades away from the scene—but not from our memory. The orchestra ceases—an uncanny silence follows. Then from out of the mystic stillness a gentle soli is bea'.d. Reluctantly we leave the theatre and go out into the lighted streets. YYo find many a tear-dimmed eye. Ate know, then, that we were not alone in our sympathy. AVo realise “I he Afan They Could Not Hang” was the most human, most thought-compelling, most wonderful, most interesting true story from actual life wo have over witnessed. Special orchestral music. Book your scats at the local Box Office, and so avoid disappointment at not being able to obtain admission. 'The prices tonight are Circle 2s 2d; Stalls Is 8d; Children under 12, Gd.