THE HULL SENSATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19350, 10 December 1924, Page 7

THE HULL SENSATION

DEMAND FOR A REPRIEVE. HOME OFFICE UNMOVED. Pres# Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, December 8. (Received Dec. 9, at 7.40 p.m.) Despite the unprecedented demonstrations which were continued at Hull to-day and thousands of telegrams to the King, the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary, and also deputations to the two lastnamed in favour of reprieving William Smith, the Home Office announces that the representations have offered no ground justifying his reprieve. Mr J. M. Kenworthy, M.P., who was one of the deputationists, stated on his arrival in London that he had never seen anything like the spontaneous outburst of feeling among all classes in Hull in favour of the condemned man. Mr Kenworthy added: “There will bo a riot and bloodshed if something is not done. _ There would have been a general strike in Hull to-day if Sir W. Joynson-Hicks had nob agreed to see the deputation.’’ Intercession services and protest meetings were held throughout the day in Hull and it was arranged to have pickets continuously outside the prison with a view to intercepting the hangman's arrival. Smith’s mother has arranged to pray outside the gaol all night long. The murder itself did not attract wide attention, but the newspapers figree that there has never previously been such a, general demand for a reprieve. This is based on Smith’s age—26—his previous blameless character, his fine war record, and the fact that he immediately gave himself up after the crime at the moment of which he said he temporarily “saw red.” —A. and N.Z. Cable.