HIS NAME CLEARED

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 23 July 1928, Page 7

HIS NAME CLEARED

END OF THE SLATER CASE. GENEROUS COMPENSATION EXPECTED. (Australian Press Association—United Service.) LONDON, July 21. The dramatic ciloarrance of Oscar Slater ’is. name. in the same count in which .19 years ago lie was sentenced to death has Dew parallels in the history of British justice. Slater was present in the public gallery. His solo thought when he realised tv hat the judgment meant was almost to. ram from court. He listened intently, not betraying emotion, and resting his head, -on his left arm,. As Lord Clyde read the unanimous acquittal hie kept his piercing gaze on the judge unfalteringly. It was not till the final paragraphs of the judgment that the decision was apparent. When it was finished Silaltor stood up suddenly, face livid in red patches. It seemed he did not at first realise, what it meant. Then he hurried out, 'brushing aside those trying to congratulate him. Compensation on a generous scale •will bo given >Slater, according to com-petent-authorities. Sums -varying from £15,000 to £20,000 are mentioned, but at present any figure is merely speculation. The Home Secretary and l the Secretary - for Scotland will hold consultations with law officers and other memibers of the Government before any recommendation is 'brought to the Cabinet. . , The newspapers- insist that 'the compensation iiiiuiat he ©o i n mensurate l with the great agony Slater 'suffered, though they unanimously 'admit it iis almost impossible- adequately to*, comipemisalte him. It is pointed out -that Adolphe Beck, wrongly sentenced to seven years in' gaol in 1895, was awarded £SOOO. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle hopes' that, the responsible officials who refused- for years to do anything in the matter will be sharply pulled up. Mr Ramsay Male Dona.l-A states .the whole case fills, oho with horror; it is cl'cairly the d-uty of the Government Jto (•■ompcmsalte fully.