"LIFER" TO BE FREED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23269, 11 February 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

"LIFER" TO BE FREED

WIFE SHOT IN STREET FRIENDS UPHOLD INNOCENCE TEN YEARS' EFFORT SUCCEEDS Three people will see their dreams come true when the gates of Maidstpno Prison open, and a shy, tired-looking man steps forth to freedom. The man is Roland Hurn, of Eltham, S.E., given a life sentence 10 years ago when his wife was shot dead ou the pavement at King's Cross. Three people believed this honest, hard-working carpenter incapable of such a deed.

First, his nine-year-old son Reggie, now a strapping young man in the Royal Air Force. Second, Mrs. May Broadhurst, of Rossway, Eltham, who befriended both father and son, and plans to spend hor life helping Roland Hurn to face a strango world, Last, but not least, Roland's old "buddy," Tom Miller, park-keeper at Bostall Woods, who for 10 long years has fought for his freedom. "No," said Mr. Miller, "there will bo no emotional reunions, no ofiiciail greetings with flags and bunting, but a drink with Roland. A grasp of the hand, will be reward enough for mo. "I'm satisfied now that he's free. I'm glad, too, that there will be a job -waiting for Roland when ho comes out —a job whore he need not fear the future, where he can settle down and forget, "If anvone deserves a square deal now it's Roland. 1 know he's innocent, I'll stake my life on that. I believe that Mrs. Hurn shot both him and horself. "That is why I swore I would get him out. That's why I withdrew my savings from the bank, organised a petition, got over 7000 signatures. "One after another, i approached influential people and begged for their help. They could not do much, "Then three years later, I saw Mr. George flicks, M.P, for Fast Woolwich. From that moment things began to happen, and a few months ago Mr Hicks finally persuaded the Homo Secretary that Hurn should bo released "I'm glad for my old pal's sake. He was the last man who should ever have gone to prison. All he cared about was his wife, his home, and his little son Reggie."