IN SHADOW OF DEATH

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11661, 11 June 1932, Page 9

IN SHADOW OF DEATH

** - U XXERVIXG EXPERT ENCK

TRIAL ON MURDER CHARGE

Few men have, had to undergo the ordeal through which Alec:. Hanson, aged 28. of Tow Law, Co. Durham, lias jmt passed. Charged wiih 'the murder of his neighbour, John 'I homes Mather, aged 42, ITanson w«« found not guilty after a trial whuff* lasted for ihroo days at Dnrbam Af sizes:— “The ordeal through which T have gone has been terrible, yet in a way, not terrifying, for the simple reason that 1 never lost heart. J Jolt thatmy innocence would he proved,” sain Hanson in an interview. ‘‘-No doubt many will say that I contributed to !my own sufferings. Yet the worst that can he said is that I have been h fool in cortain tilings—and being a fool is a vastly different thing from being a murderer. ‘‘lt was an ordeal to' hear witness after witness called to testify against me. When the prosecution finished their case towards the end of thy second day there was anxiety in my mind. I was in the box' altogether for less than an hour and a-half, I believe. It .seemed only live minutes to me. j. expected that on the third day I would he in the b°x nearly all the day, so it, was a surprise, when my examination occupied a comparatively short lime. Then came the speeches and tho judge’s summing up. After the skilful manner iji which my counsel oxpetsed all The Haws in the case for tho prosecution, 1 felt, more confident than ever that [ would step forth a. free man. “Tho jury were gone loss than three-quarters of an hour, and when they filed back into the b<hx T could almost rend the verdict in tho| P laces In particular there was dn» dioory-looking juror, whoso lialfsmilcis as ho looked in my direction (old mo: the verdict was in my favour. ‘Not,guilty.’ ‘ I 'felt relieved of fill worries. Happy, but quite cairn. . “As I. stepped into the little anteroom just Through the swing doors of the main court, my lather came to meet me. Ho grasped me hy the hand, and for a moment or two neither o-f u's spoke. Then, still grasping my hand, lie said quietly: 'Your: mother’s waiting out there, lad.' In the largo hall my mother, sister and two aunts wero standing. AVhnt a welcome lliev gave me,” .