CONDEMNED TO DEATH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19349, 9 December 1924, Page 7

CONDEMNED TO DEATH

AGITATION FOR REPRIEVE. AMAZING SCENES AT HUfcL, Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, December '?. (Received Dec. 8, at 8.20 p-m.). Unprecedented excitement prevails, at Hull because Sir W. Joynson-Hicks (Homo Secretary) refused to reprieve a young boilermaker named William Smith* jwho •was sentenced to death for killing a woman with whom ho lived because he suspected her fidelity. Smith’s mother tramped the streets fear days and nights and obtained 90,000 signatures to a petition for the of her son. She fainted when she was told of the Home Secretary’s decision. An eleventh hour effort is being made' tp. get the decision changed. ' • Enormous crowds engaged in_ a demonstration to-day, processions marching to the prison crying, “Hang the hangmen,’’ and men and women singing Onward Christian Soldiers,” “Throw Out the- Lifeline,” and “Abide Witli Me.” . The Lady Mayoress and the Archbishop of York are interesting themselves in the matter, and the trade unionists in Hull threaten to strike at noon to-morrow unless a reprieve is granted.—A. and N.Z. Cable.