OSCAR SLATER CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19897, 16 March 1928, Page 11

OSCAR SLATER CASE.

COURT TO HEAR APPEAL. { OLD CRIME IN SCOTLAND. (Received March IS, 8.55 p.m.) A. and N.Z.-Snn. LONDON, March 14. The Secretary for Scotland, Sir James Gilmour, has remitted the case of Oscar Slater, who was recently released from prison after serving 13£ years of a life sentence in connection with the murder of an old lady, to the Scottish Court of Criminal Appeal. Oscar Slater was convicted by the majority verdict of an Edinburgh jury {nine to six) in May, 1909, of the murder of an old lady, Miss Marion Gilchrist. Nine jurymen voted guilty, five not proven and one not guilty. Miss Gilchrist war about 70 years of age. and lived alone in apartments in Glasgow with a maid, who had been in her employ for some years. She was wealthy, eccentric and bought jewellery largely, which sho kept in her rooms. At the time of her death sho had jewellery worth £3OOO put awav in her wardrobe. She was found on December 21, 1908, in her dining room, brutally murdered. Slater was arrested in America and extradited. He was sentenced to death, but the sentenco was commuted and reduced to one of imprisonment for life. On November 10 last the Under-Secretary for Scotland, Major Walter Elliott, stated that Slater would be released on licence. He had served 18i years. A bill was passed a few days later, providing for the reference of his case to the Criminal Appeal Court ol Scotland.