LATE WALTER TRICKER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3759, 7 March 1907, Page 4

LATE WALTER TRICKER.

One Of Life’s Tragedies. An exchange recently published a short account of an old time tragedy, the memory of which was revived by the death, at an advanced age, of Mr Walter Trieker, who virtually remained under condemnation for several years for a crime which there is every reason to believe that he never committed. Among those who always timly believed in Tricker’s innocence was Colonel Gorton, the well-known auctioneer of Kangitikci and Feilding. Colonel Gorton never questioned Trickcr’s absolute guiltlessness. He speaks of him as one of the most straightforward and honest men he ever met, though he had a violent temper when he thought anything was wrong. Colonel Gorton was present during part of Tricker’s trial at Wellington, and heard him sentenced to death. The condemned man was without -education, and his countenance was not prepossessing, but his demeanour in the dock was that of an innocent man. He was not fortunate in his counsel, and the Judge summed up dead against him. The late Archdeacon Stock, who was then chaplain at Wellington Gaol, and visited Trieker dally, felt so convinced of his innocence that he wrote letter after letter to the papers (this was away back m .the sixties), and it was mainly through the Archdeacon’s instrumentality and unceasing efforts that the death sentence was ultimately commuted to imprisonment for life. Agitation after agitation for his release followed, and numerous petitions were sent in, but without result, as there were still some who believed him guilty. Finally, after languishing seven years in gaol, the poor fellow was given his liberty, but only on ticket-of-lcave, and be was liable to arrest again at any time, besides not being a free agent. No Government, apparently, would take the risk of granting him a free pardon, as they would like to have done, for the reason that they feared that he might, as in Meikle’s case, claim heavy compensation, It was Colonel Gorton who spoke to Hon. Johnßallauce, when he was Premier, about the matter, explaining that though he (the Colonel) did not agree with Mr Ballance’s policy it would be an act of clemency and justice on the part af the Government, which would redound to their credit, to grant poor Trieker an unconditional pardon and allow him to deal with his own property. Mr Ballance’s reply was that he always considered Trieker wrongly convicted, and had written to that effect in the Wangauui Herald at the time of the murder, and subsequently. “ Send me in a petition,’’ said Mr Ballauce, “ and I will see to it at once.’’ A petition was speedily got up and signed* without having to send out to get it done, and poor Trieker at length, after many weary years’ waiting, received Ins free and unconditional pardon. We learn from a correspondent that Colonel Gorton saw Trieker a day or two before his death, and was greatly struck at the calm, resigned and really beautiful way in which he spoke of his approaching dissolution, thus affording another convincing proof of his entire innocence of the terrible crime for which lie had been sentenced to death. His was indeed a hard fate, but ever since he came back to Kangitikei he proved an exemplary settler, and had gained the highest respect and esteem of the whole community in which he had spent so many years of his life. It is said that of those who, at one time, believed in his guilt, there is not one now alive who is not lirmly convinced of his absolute innocence. To the late Archdeacon Stock remains the whole credit of untiring efforts to obtain Trieker's release, and his persistency was finally crowned with success. All honour to the memory of both.