TEARS FOR MURDERER.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 43, 20 February 1926, Page 23

TEARS FOR MURDERER.

A CORONER WEEPS. CLERGYMAN'S "TRIBUTE" TO^ \ ASSASSIN, ■ ADMIRATION FOR MADMAIjr. Amassing tributes to a murderer were paid at the Inquest at Stranyewaye Gaol, Manchester, on Sam Johnson, 28, a married, man, wiho was executed for the murder of Beatrice Philomena Martini whom ihe stabbed to death on the doorstep of her parents' home at Stratford. Throughout hie trial Johnson refused absolutely to make any defence. He insisted on pleading guilty, asai bis trial at (Manchester Assizes occupied only four minutes—the shortest murder trial eh record in 'England. . ) v . It was disclosed fhafc Johnson .held the view that by killing the girl he saved her from a worse fate, and he wished to follow (her. Between hie appearance before the magistrates and his trial he was confirmed by the Bishop of 'Manchester at fcia own request. On the morning of hie execution Johnson asked that the executioner should be ■ready for his work not leas ■ than . five minutes before eight o'clock, the time fixed for the' execution. His wish was that as his trial had been so short, hie execution should be short. ■ s . ■ ' -'• . ' Dean's Praise. ~ Johnson's conduct after the crime wae ihlghly ■ praised by the Dean of Manchester (Dr. Hewlett Johnson). . "We should tike to say how much we admire the man who has passed away," said the- 7>eaa, ''his whole conduct towards God Almighty in; confessing his sins and pleading for thp* forgiveness which we know he will receive, his attitude towards .his fellowrcitizens afterwards in causing no trouble, no delay in court, in making no effort to get ont of the sentence which he felt was justified, his exemplary conduct in gaol eince." ' '■ '» After speaking of the sanctity of mar/ ried life and 'human personality, the Dean went onto say:^"We should do all that -we can by our words and actions In life to help young men and women in the flood of life without such a tragedy as this staining their lives," The coroner (Mr. B. Stuart R»dger> broke down and wept after eaytog, "I admire Jofenspn for hie conduct since the crime." ■ i' ; ■■ . i-.- ; In a letter to his family Johnson ex- ' pressed the deepest contrition for his crime. In the course of this letter, addreSsed %o "Father, Mother, Ernest and he said:— • ■••.•■ "I want "you all to realise 'that- I am going to th® Blace where sorrow and sadioess is not known, so please try and realise that I shall toe very happy, and I hope you will all try to be the same> "It makes mc feel very happy to know ithait I am going where my dear friend, Betty, has gone, for I am quite sure that she is happy where she Is.and I know I shall be Just as toappy, and that is how I want you to toot at it, Mother. "■Well, I must aay you and dad have always been the best of fathers and mothers mc,. I know I have always had a very good home, but, as I say, I have never realised it unifi it was too late. I bnow that you will aU feel the strain, and find it hard to bear, but I hope you will all try to be as happy as you possibly can." "A Mother's Heart," There is a poignant passage in the letter, "referring* to Mrs. Martin, the dead gjrl's mother:— . ' . ' "She was a good friend to me—like a "second mother, foe she treated mc as one pf her own flesh and Mood. With ihe sorrow I have, caused her I fully expected, any other person would, . that she would iturn, bitter against mc. But you ccc ehe has a heart and a mother's feelings. She will remain a real 'friend to mc. It is wonderful when I think .how'true all my friends have been.

I hope there will be no ill-feeling between you whatever. She is just like you, mother—suffering at heart. "While I ihave been awaiting my «nd everybody has been, so kind end good to mc. The Church Army missioner, the prison chaplain, and the Bishop have made mc quite happy, and now I shall, meet my God with a clear mind knowing that I ■have confessed -everything , that was troubling mc. "Think how happy ■I. shall be, and we will all meet sooner or later in that place ibeyond. My one desire Is that you will have no ill-feeling against my friend, Betty. Please remember she has suffered ■through mc, and I still say this, ac there, was m> cause for It to be done. So once, again I cay that she has suffered c worse death than I ihave, and I think what has taken plat* is only what should toe. Bo I want you all to think the same although I know it will be very hard. "Well, my loving sister Lizzie, I am quite lhappy; in fact, happier than I have ever been, and I want you to be the same. Till death do us ever part.—Tour ever loving Sam."