THE SLATER CASE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 31 July 1928, Page 8

THE SLATER CASE.

(police orncEß’s tragedy. A PROMISING CAREER CUT SHORT. (Contributed ‘by ‘‘‘Teira.”) The success of Oscar .Slater's appeal from tiie convict,ion 'for -the murder of Miss Marion Gilc'lir'ist, in 1908, by 'the unanimous decision of five Judges is the most momentous event that lias taken place in judicial matters for many years. It is true 'that the judges dismissed the appeal so far as it was, attempted to overturn the 'conviction on the ground that the police authorities had suppressed available evidence. It is no less true that the ap-’ peal was allowed on the grounds thtat. the prosecuting counsel made improper, references to the habits of l'ife of Slater, and the judge who tried the case did not in his summing up correct the wrong- impression created. _ • It may Ibe of interest even at this late day* to refer to the tragic ‘history of police officer Trench, who was very closely concerned in the case.

Trench joined the police force of Glasgow in 1893. and very soon proved, his ability., .From time t,o time he! received-.promotion until 'in 1911:2 he became a Eie'utenant of Police. It became his duty 'to .conduct the examination of the premise's in the 'Slater case. Very early .he (became convinced that the police "were following wrong lines in the trying to sheet home the crime to Slater. He became possessed of the evidence that the serving woman TJamfbie had let fall after the murder that it. had been committed by a' man known to her. As readers of the trial will remember, the police seized the brooch •clue and clung tendunuosly to it, tnough iSlater Inter was able to give a satisfactory account of it. Trench’s superiors were, however, opposed to his theory and he was compelled to give it up. ■After Slater’s conviction . Trench pursued his researches and being ‘convinced that his discoveries at least threw doubt upon Slater’s guilt, he consulted a friend in the legal profession, a‘ Mr David 'Cook. Application was made to. the Secretary for 'Scotland and, at his invitation, Trench’s thesis were sent to him. An inquiry followed ‘withoht the sanction of an oath. As a result the Secretary of Scotland told the House of Commons that there was no need to take further action; so far as Slater was affected lie remained in Peterhead Gaol. But in regard to Trench the result® were tragic. He was called upon to explain his conduct, die produced his invitation from t,ho 'Secretary of Scotland and pleaded that it that could not avail him there might be 'considered his long 'and zealous service to the. State.- No plea availed him. The magistrates wh'o heard the case held that he had acted improperly in discussing the matters with 'Mr 'Cook and he, who through merit and ability, became a Lieutenant, of Police, was ignominously dismissed from, the sort vipc. ... AC the outbreak of the war Trench, enlisted and very early his ability as an instructor and disciplinarian secured him the rank of drill instructor. In May, 1915, when on the point of leaving’for the Dardanelles, the 'arm of the law again wrote him. He was arrested together with his friend Cook and charged with receiving stolen property. The whole affair was 'Calculated to indicate a ven'om. in the officers of his one-time department hard to .appro-, mate. It seems that in January, 3 D’l4, the premises of Reis and Co., jewellers, in Glasgow, had been gurgled of about £909 worth of goods. The thieves could' not' be apprehended and -the Guardian Insurance Company paid the loss sustained by Reis and Co. Later, a dealer named McArthur opened up ■negotiations with Trench and s'aid that he (McArthur) .could) "get back the stolen property for £IOO. Trench consulted with his superior officer, who advised Trench to Idt Bucli'anan, the manager of the Guardian Company do the fishing work himself. Cook was •called in. and the money and the goods were restored the Guardian people, they being highly delighted and writing a letter to the chief detective expressive of their warm appreciation of Trench’s offices. This- alleged crime oedurred in January, 1&14. Trench and Cook were not arrested till May, 1918 ,and though liberated on bail were not tried till August. of that year. The Lord -JusticeClerk, who tried the ease, made short work of it. In addressing the jury he pointed out that the element of keeping back the property from the rightful owners, was entirely absent and that what had been done h'ad been prompted by .meritorious motives. He directed them to acquit the prisoners, which they at once did. The subsequent history of Trench is of small compass. He rejoined'his regiment and served with distinction in

Egypt and later in France. He was demobilised in 1918, but his experiences, civil .and military, had so undermined his health that lie died on May IS, 1919 —by a queer .coincidence ‘on the fourth anniversary of his arrest. .Mr Cook, who likewise whs shaken to his roots by the recurrences herein narrated, survived ‘Trench only .two years.