WHY MURDERERS GO FREE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 264, 31 October 1908, Page 4

WHY MURDERERS GO FREE

The English public are linding fault, with tin; police for the many mysterious, undetected murders, which have lately been committed. But the police lay the blame on the lawyers. More and more latitude, they say! has been allowed cross-examiners, until now it is extremely (lillicult to get witnesses to come forward and give evidence. 11l a recent sensational case—whicli, by the way, ended in an acquittal — one of the principal witnesses for the prosecution complained bitterly in open court of the manner in which the secrcls of his past life kad been laid bare, and of the persecution he had suffered in consequence. " If," lie exclaimed, "at any time in the future 1 saw a man being done to death in the street, I would never again interfere in the matter in the interests o( justice.'' The woman who w?..i the chief witness against Canhain licicl. the Southend murderer, was forced take admission-, under cross -examination, which resulted ill her husband leaving her and her home b"ing wrecked. And thew two cases are but fvpical of mi'iiv ulliers. Fear of cross-examination, however, although the principal reason why witnesses are reluctant to come lorwaiil. is not, the only one. .Many people a.e -averse to mixing themselves up in criminal cases for fear of the possible veng'aiice of the prisoner's " pals." Others »vill not, from mistaken motives of humanity, help to send a fellow-creature to the' gallows: while vet another class of might-be-wilm'sse, 'are in dread f Ibeijig pointt'd out as " coppers' marks." The net result, is that nianv murderers are walking about, amongst their fellows to-iluv, fire men. and unsuspected, who. if thev had their deserts, wouid either have been hanged long ago, or consigned lo the scarcely less preferable fate of life long penal servitude.