CLAPHAM COMMON MURDER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 264, 17 March 1911, Page 5

CLAPHAM COMMON MURDER

MORRISON SENTENCED TO DEATH. AN EXCITING DAY IN COURT. Uy Cable—Press Association —Copyright. London, March 14. While Morrison's counsel was addressing the jury the victim's brother rushed towards counsel shrieking, "He is my brother's murderer." Detectives seized and ejected him, shouting as he went, "He's going to get him off." Morrison was unmoved. His counsel declared that the prosecution's important evidence had broken down. Counsel for the prosecution argued that Steiner Morrison's defence rested almost on his own oath. His attack on witnesses suggested inquiry into his own antecedents; hence he was searchingly cross-examined. The prosecution contended-that he was a practised burglar, and that the instrument of death was probably a "jemmy." Regarding the murder as an alleged political revenge, Inspector Wensley had testified that Beron did not give information concerning- the Houndsditch murderers. The Judge, after consultation with, counsel, agreed to admit fresh evidence in the cftse. A constable stated that the prisoner had been definitely charged with murder, which the police had hitherto denied. - The whole day was spent in Justice Darling's searching enquiry into treatment of Morrison by the police. Constable Greaves gave evidence that he wrote to Morrison's counsel in the interests of justice, detailing what occurred at the police station, and said he had hesitated to speak earlier, as he did not desire to implicate his colleagues. Morrison was found guilty, and was sentenced to death. Morrison stood with his arms folded and head flung back, and gazed defiantly at the foreman and Judge; then, referring to the closing invocation of the death sentence—"and may the Lord have mercy on your soul"—he exclaimed, "I decline such mercy. I do not believe there is a God in heaven." THE ÜBIQUITOUS SNAPSIIOTTER. ; OBJECTED TO IN COURT. I Received 10, 10.10 p.m. London. March 10. Greaves, cross-examined, admitted that he had twice been suspended, firstly for ( complaining of his sergeant, and secondly for making supposed untrue statements to the superintendent, and thereafter was transferred to another division. Mr. Justice Darling, in summing up, endorsed the jury's protest against indiscriminate snapshotting of those erfgaged in the trial, and said it was a far graver matter when people were permitted to photograph prisoners not yet identified by those having testified against them. Such photographs might be seen by possibly uncertain witnesses, inducing them to swear to an identification, which thev would otherwise be unable to do. Morrison had been thus photographed when merely remanded on suspicion. The practice was obviously injurious to the prosecution, and was calculated to frustrate the whole ends of justice. The jury was absent for thirty-five minutes. '

Mr. Churchill, in reply to a question in .the House, said the ma.ttcr of snapshotting at trials was under consideration.