EXECUTION OF PODMORE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19941, 30 May 1930, Page 9

EXECUTION OF PODMORE.

. « I.L.P.'S INDISCREET RESOLUTION. MR CLYNES'S RETORT. 0?BOM OCB OWX CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, April 24. William. Henry Podmore was executed in Winchester Prison at 8 a.m. on Tuesday for the murder of Mr Vivian Messiter, at Southampton, in October, 1928. He was wearing the blue suit, brown ahoes, and spats he had worn during his trial, and he walked to tho scaffold firmly. Ho had eaten no breakfast, but accepted stimulants. At the inquest a verdict was returned that the sentence of death had been duly carried out. Replying to a juror, the prison governor said: "I have no authority to say whether a prisoner confesses or not." Mr J. E. Clynes, the Home Secretary, later commented on a resolution passed by the Independent Labour Party Conference'regarding his refusal to recommend a reprieve for Podmore. He said: "That resolution requires me to ignore the solemn decisions of Courts, Judges, and jury, and to act upon an opinion of capital punishment. I hope that no Secretary of State will ever be influenced by such an indefensible doctrine. I searched for many days in the hope that I would find a reason for recommending a reprieve. I searched in vain. I am not prepared to make a mock of the law, however strong the desire may be to • change it. Public opinion must not take the place of a Court of Law. There is a large volume of public opinion which says that many LL.P. leaders ought to be shot out of hand. I have seen no resolution to act. upon that opinion, and would not act if I were asked."