THE CREWE MURDER.

Timaru Herald, Volume L, Issue 4864, 9 June 1890, Page 3

THE CREWE MURDER.

* THE HOME SECRETARY'S EXPLANATION. The indignant "greater jurymen" and blathering M.P.s who threatened Mr Matthews with the condign vengoanoo of both sides of tbe House of Commons for his persistence m executing Richard Davieß reckoned wholly without their host. The Home Secretary «aid a very few words on the subject, but that they carried conviotion to tho majority of members present was bo obvious that even the usually irrepressible " Tay Pay" found it impossible to pursue the matter furthor. " The crime of tho Davies brothers," observed Mr Matthews, "was cruel and deliberate, and tho recommendation of the jury to mercy on the ground of the murderers' youth only, it was impossible to give effect to m the case of Richard Davies, who was all but 19, an age approaching manhood, at which responsibility for deliberate crimo lias been and m my opinion should Ie enforced. (Rear, hoar.; George Davies was only 16 years and 8 months old. No person so young has been left for execution for very many years. The conclusion at which both myself and the Judge wbo tried the oaso arrived, was that George Davies acted under the inlluence of his elder brother, who initiated the plot and took a principal part m the execution. Under , these circumstances, I thought it possible to ; give effect to tbe recommendation of the jury ] m tho cttse of George, and I am permitted to say that I had tho advice and concurrence of , the learned Judge m extending mercy to George and George only. (Hear, hoar.)" .