MURDER CHARGE RECALLED

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 15 December 1920, Page 5

MURDER CHARGE RECALLED

CASE AGAINST ARTHUR ROBERTS

PRISONER RECOMMENDED FOR t RELEASE. (by telegraph—pbess association.) i CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 14. In Christehurch on November 17, 1909, Arthur J. W. Roberts was found ■ guilty of the murder of a waitress in ( the Silver Grid restaurant, Manchester Street. Roberts was sentenced to death, but the sentence was afterwards commuted to imprisonment for life. The Prison Board has now decided to recommend Roberts for release on probation in twelve months time, provided his conduct and industry give satisfaction in the meantime and his mental condition remains aB at present. At Roberts' trial it was disclosed that he was in love with the girl he murdered, but that he was .not the only suitor; Roberts apparently became jealous and, after gaining admittance \ to the girl's room, committed the crime. He then bolted, .but was arrested a- day or two afterwards. The defence put forward by Mr. W. J. Hunter at the trial was that of insanity. While the jury was not convinced that insanity had been established, it had doubts as to Roberts' mental condition at the time of the murder. It was Mr. Hunter who made representations to the Prisons Board for the prisoner's release, claiming that prison life had wrought a wonderful improvement in his physical and mental condition, aitd that if he were released he would go to Scotland and start afresh there. Roberts is now about 32 years old. "