GUN ALLEY MURDER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18720, 25 November 1922, Page 17

GUN ALLEY MURDER

WAS ROSS GUILTY’ qtroii Oub Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, November 15. An echo of the famous Gun Alley murder case in Melbourne, when Colin Ross was convicted and executed for the murder of a twelve-year-old girl under revolting circumstances, has been provided by the publication, in a book issued by Ross's defending counsel, of a letter purporting to have been written by the “ real ” murderer. The letter was received by Ross’s solicitor, with the request that it be passed on to the condemned man. It came from a small Victorian country town, and purported to be the confession' of the murderer. The following extraordinary passage occurs in it:— My Dear Ross, —If it is any satisfaction for you to know it, believe me that you die but once, hut he (the real murderer) will continue to die. for the rest of his life. Honoured and fawned upon by those who know him, the smile upon his lips but hides the canker eating into hir, soul. Day arid night his life is a hell, without hope or reprieve. Gladly ho would, take your place- on Monday next . (the execution day) if ho had himself alone U> consider. A devoted and loving mother is ill—a shock would be fatal. Three loving quarried sisters’ whole lives would bo wrecked. Brothers have been accustomed to take him as a pattern. Himself ho will sacrifice when his mother passes away. Ho will do it by hie own hand, with a lie on his lips, with the only hope that religion is a myth and death an annihilation. The writer of this strange letter goes on to say that this girl was not the first. Ho hoped it would be some satisfaction to Ross and his family to know that at least one of the legion of the damned, who was the cause of his death, was suffering the panga of hell. He asked riot forgiveness or sympathy, but understanding.