PROPOSAL TO RELEASE A MURDERER

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 270, 9 August 1920, Page 4

PROPOSAL TO RELEASE A MURDERER

"SILVER GRID" CASE TO BE REVIEWED.

Br Tolecraph-Press' Association.

Christchurch, August 7. An effort is being mado to secure the release from prison of Arthur John Wilson Roberts, who, on October 18, 1909, at the Silver Grid restaurant, Cjiristchnrch. murdered a waitress employed there. At tho trial it was disclosed, that Roberts was in lovo with, the girl, but was not the onlv suitor, f.nd his counsel, Mr. W. J. Hunter, put up a defence on the ground of the prisoner's alleged insanitv. The inrv- returned a verdict of "uilly, hut added that it had gravo doub's as to whether at tho time o( committing the crime Roberts was elipablo of understanding the nature and quality of his act, and made strong recommendation that mercy should be extended to him. As the result of a-petition tho death sentence was commuted, and Roberto was sentenced to life imprisonment. Mr. Hunter stales that prison life haa led to an enormous improvement in Jiolir erts's physical and mental state, nnd ho has applied to the Prison Board +o consider the question of releasing him. Ho has received a reply stating that tho board will consider tho case, probably about November. Roberts is now 32 years of age. • The Silver Grid, where the murder was committed, was destroyed by fire about three years ago. several lives being lost.