MURDERS IN BRITAIN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 91, 27 January 1928, Page 5

MURDERS IN BRITAIN.

THE CARDIFF TRAGEDY. DEMONSTRATIONS OUTSIDE GAOL (Press Association —Copyright.) LONDON, January 26. The visit of the aged mother of Daniel Driscoll and her farewell to her son in the condemned cell caused remarkable scenes outside Cardiff gaeL Driscoll is under sentence of death, with Edward Rowlands for the,murder of David Lewis, a Cardiff footballer. The third accused, John Rowlands, recently became insane. As she was leaving, a great crowd surged round the grief-stricken woman in efforts to shake her hand. It was only with difficulty that she reached a In.vi-f l . Jill. Mr O’Connor states that he has received a telegram from Liverpool trade unionists asking if they should call a general stoppage of work on Thursday if Sir Austen Chamberlain’s decision is not altered. Mr O’Connor says he replied: “I cannot but personally approve even a general stoppage of work if it will stop what I consider a judicial murder.” Catholics are arranging for the Rosary to be recited outside the prison at the time of the execution. As a dramatic last minute effort to secure a commutation qf the sentence on Rowlands and (Driscoll, nine members of the jury have signed, a memorial which will be rushed to the Home Office this morning. This states that the jury were influenced by the allegation that the men were members of a gang and that tlie jurymen think two Eves should not be forfeited for one. Masses for the doomed men • were said in many Catholic churches in Wales. THE ESSEX MYSTERY. FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS. LONDON, January 26. The police at Liverpool detained a man and a woman in connection with the alleged theft of a doctor’s motorcar. 1

Twenty detectives surrounded a hotel whore the suspects were staying. It is stated that the man, when confronted, whipped out a fully, loaded five-chambered revolver, but a detective struck The weapon out of his hand just as the trigger was pulled, and the cartridge misfired. Developments are expected.

PRECAUTIONS AT CARDIFF

BARRIERS ROUND THE PRISON

(Received This Day, 12.50 p.m.) LONDON, January 26. Extraordinary precautions are being taken by the police at Cardiff for the execution to-morroiv. The witnesses at the trial and other informations have been warned not to frequent the streets for a few days. The executioner is being strongly guarded by the police. The Fire Brigade has been instructed to stand by in the event of the necessity of clearing the crowds by means of hose. Barriers have been erected around the prison. ' Mrs Rowlands paid h,er final visit to her husband, and left the prison in a state of collapse. Driscoll’s mother was unable to face the ordeal, and accused’s brother visited him instead.

Two jurors in the case came tq, London to-day, and presented a petition for reprive, signed by eight jurors'. The deputation was not received at the Home Office, where the view was taken that they could leave the petition in the same way as others, but no additional importance was attached to it. Referring to the jurymen’s deputation in connection with the Cardiff murder case, the Home Office says it is a fixed, necessary rule that the individual views of jurymen must not be allowed to influence the exercise of the Royal prerogative of mercy. Jurymen may support an appeal for mercy, like the rest of the public, but once a unanimous verdict is .given, individual jurors cannot qualify it.

THE LIVERPOOL ARREST. STRUGGLE FOR A REVOLVER. (Received This Day, 1.35 p.m.) LONDON, January 26. The man arrested at Liverpool is named William Kennedy, aged 40. The Liverpool police chief says the couple left the house .at midnight, and walked a few yards, when they were spoken to by a detective, who immediately took hold of the man. A struggle ensued. The man pointed a revolver at the detective. In the following struggle the revolver was wrenched from his grasp. Twenty armed police in motor cars surrounded the house. . , ~,, . Kennedy was not charged, blit will do tried at London in connection with Frederick Brown, who was arrested there on charges relating to the tlielt of a car. The woman was released.