PLEA FOR MURDERER.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1922, Page 5

PLEA FOR MURDERER.

APPEL FROM THE PULPIT, SIMILAR CASE RECALLED. SOCIETY BEAUTY’S CRIME. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Dec. 19, 10.20 p.m. London, Dec. 18. The Rev. Hugh Chapman, chaplain at the Chapel Royal, Savoy, delivered a sensational sermon in favour of a reprieve for Bywaters, who, with Mrs. Thompson, was sentenced to death for the murder of Thompson. He told a story that when he was a young minister a woman of his congregation, who was a well-known society beauty, con fessed to him that she poisoned her husband, who died. Mr. Chapman was greatly troubled, and consulted Cardinal Manning, who did not suggest that Mr. Chapman should reveal the crime. Later the woman’s lover came to him and asked him if he knew of the affair. Mr. Chapman said to the man: “Yes. and she says that if you persevere in your love suit you will be the next to be poisoned.” The lover replied: “I should think it a great honor.” The man went abroad, but could not rid himself of his obsession for fourteen years. Mr. Chapman urged that the case was analogues to that of Bywaters, who should be examined by a phychologist, who would say whether he was insane. The newspapers are asking whether Mr. Chapman is not an accessory after the fact in the murder. The attention of legal authorities has been drawn to the matter, as the seal of the confessional is not recognised by English law.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.