SILVER GRID MURDER.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 17018, 15 December 1920, Page 6

SILVER GRID MURDER.

' ROBERTS TO BE RELEASED. Tho Prisons Board has decided tbals Arthur J. W. Roberts who, on November 17th, 1903, at Christchurch, was found guilty of the murder of a waitress at the Silver Grid restaurant, Manchester, street, and was sentenced to death, and whoso sentence was subsequently commuted to imprisonment for life, is to be released. At the trial, Mr W. J. Hunter, counsel for the accused, put forward a pi"* of insanity,. and while the jury was not satisiiod that insanity had been made clear it had misgivings regarding Roberts's mental condition at tho time of the murder. _ Some time ago Mr Hunter made representations to tho Prisons Board for tho release of the prisoner, who is now about 32, pointing out tnat the latter s imprisonment had effected a marked improvement in his physical and mental condition. If released Roberts would go to Scotland and begin life over again. Mr Hunter has now received tho following letter from the Board: — "Dear Sir. —I beg to inform yon that at a meeting of tho Prisons Board, held recently, it was decided to recommend Prisoner Arthur J. W. Roberts for release on probation in twelve months' time, provided his conduct and industry give satisfaction in the meantime, and his mental condition remains as at present."