THORNE’S CRIME

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 119, 22 April 1925, Page 6

THORNE’S CRIME

SECOND EDITION

PENALTY TO BE PAID. FATHER’S FAREWELL LETTER. [By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received April 22, 1.25 p.m. LONDON, April 21. Mr Thorne, sonr., in a farewell letter to his son Norman, whose execution lor the murder of his fiancee, despite agitation for a reprieve, will occur tomorrow, says: “Keep brave and steadfast ; your friends cannot think of you as a murderer. We have full assurance that we shall moot you in heaven, where there will be no more partings or sorrow, and our tears will be wiped away. Clod grant you a glorious entry into*the Heavenly Kingdom where your dear mother is waiting to welcome vou.” Mr Thorne, senr., when interviewed, said: “Perhaps Norman’s death will help others and may make the public pause and think what a terrible thing the death penalty is if only because the mistakes cannot be rectified.” He said he did not wish to say harsh things, but he did not think he had fair play. Perhaps the question will he raised in the House of Commons.

The Home Secretary has written to Thorne’s solicitor, stating that before he announced his refusal of a reprieve he personally read the full transcript of the whole proceedings in every court from day to day. In his anxiety that nothing that could he said on prisoner’s behalf, should not be given due weight, lie had conferred with the Chief Justice regarding the whole case. He regretted that after examination from every point of view he could find no reason to atlvi.se interfering with the sentence. —A. and N.Z. cable.