THE CONDEMNED MAN ROBERTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 671, 23 November 1909, Page 4

THE CONDEMNED MAN ROBERTS.

■": :a: PETITION .BEING; PREPARED. :,^; ;! V' (Dy Tulegroph—Press ABBoclalloD.i-, ' ■'.',; , "■' Chrlstchurch,'November Ot'.';-'; : Steps arc being taken .to' petition his; Excellency the Governor to commute the.sentence of death passed;on Arthur,:J.-W.' Roberts:at;the, recent criminal sittings of! the 'Supreme Court 'in this.; city- for the. murder, of :• Alice. Edith Newman' on, October ; 18. '...' : . ;:'■'■■ ..;....',; ,-.Mr. ■ -W..;'J;-: Hunter, who defended" Roberts when .he.' was' on his trial,, states: that; he is at present preparing the petition to the 'Governor/; praying him .to exercise his;prerogative of ...moroy'and 'to commute j the' sentence'passed. upon;him. ' Mr..Hunter.is.of opinion-that.tho exeroise '. of;.-■ the <■ prerogative -or '.mercy would bo clearly in occordarico with the'recommendation of : the jury in' the case. /The onus Had' been ' bri.; .the. defence';to -prove that- Roberts wns_ : insane,, nccoi'ding to' tho legal definition of/insanity—a... definition', that; /Mr. .Hunter thinks is somewhat exacting. The jury held that the, defence had failed to/show that accused '.was not-legally sane;,but it: the,sanio time th«y.-had.doubts on.tho pbint/ Mi', Hunter thinks it possible that'the'Government might order that. Roberts: be.:furtheri;exnmihed:as to' his' sanity...-';. '.;. -''■/;: '.'■:■■'•>■: '.- : <- '-'•>':■. ■.'The petition is: to.be ready ..for. signature tomorrow morning, andAvill simply pray, that his Excellency should 'exercise his prerogative of mercy, and 'commute; Roberto's' sentence, but would leavd the question as'to what his sen ; tonce should I>e to his Excellency, and his: advisers.:■ To-day, 'saveral..people who wpre desirous/ of signing: the 'petition .called,'on./Mr. .Hunter."'-'.;'■;.""■■'■,'■;■.:■: ''-!;': "':' . 1'.:.-".-"