THE CONDEMNED MEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20318, 28 January 1928, Page 11

THE CONDEMNED MEN

PREPARATIONS FOR EXECUTION. EXTRAORDINARY PRECAUTIONS. (Pres# Association—By Telegraph—Copyright ) LONDON, January 26. Extraordinary police precautions have been taken at Cardiff for to-morrow’s execution. Witnesses at the trial and other informants have been warned not to frequent the streets for a few days. The executioner is being strongly guarded by the police. The fire brigade has been instructed to stand by in the event of the necessity of clearing the crowds by hose. Barriers have been erected around the prison. Mrs Rowlands paid a final visit to her husband, and left the prison in a state of collapse. Driscoll’s mother was unable to face the ordeal, and the accused’s brother visited him instead. Two of the jurors in the case came to London to-day and presented a reprieve petition signed by eight jurors. The deputation was not received at the Home Office, whore the view was taken that it could leave the petition the same as others do, but no additional importance is attached to this. —A. and N.Z. Cable. INFLUENCE OF JURYMEN. LONDON, January 26. Referring to the jurymen’s deputation in connection with the Cardiff murder, the Home Office says that it is a fixed and necessary rule that the individual views of jurymen must not be allowed to influence the exercise of the royal prerogative of mercy. Jurymen may support an appeal for mercy, like the rest of the public, but once a unanimous verdict is given, individual jurors cannot qualify it. —A. and N.Z. and Sydney Sun Cable. EXTRA POLICE ARRIVE. CORDON ROUND THE GAUL. LONDON, January 26. (Received Jan. 27, at 9 p.m.) Two hundred extra police arrived at Cardiff and formed a cordon rcund the gaol this morning.—A. and N.Z. Cable. EXECUTION CARRIED OUT. LONDON, January 27. (Received Jan. 28, at 1 a.m.) Rowland and Driscoll have been executed.—A. and N.Z. Cable.