Drew Carried Shoulder High At Conclusion Of Inquest.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18887, 11 October 1929, Page 1

Drew Carried Shoulder High At Conclusion Of Inquest.

ACTOR, WHO WAS SUSPECTED OF MURDER, QOES FREE, AMIDST PUBLIC REJOICING

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received October 11, 9.0 a.m.) LONDON, October 10. AT the Reading inquest a verdict of murder by someone unknown was returned. The foreman of the jury announced that the evidence was too conflicting to permit definitely of establishing the guilt. The verdict was cheered inside and outside the court. When Philip Yale Drew emerged he was most unconcerned. He was carried shoulder high to his hotel.—Australian Press Assn.

England has been -mystified by a tragedy in which a man named Alfred Oliver, aged sixtj’, a tobacconist, of Cross Street, Reading, was found bludgeoned and at the point of death in his shop on June 22. His wife left him at five minutes past six in the afternoon, and returned at a quarter past six and found her husband, dying. After making inquiries for three months the police failed to make an arrest, but at the resumed inquest a strange story was unfolded. At the Coroner’s court, Philip Yale Drew, aged fifty, \Vho was playing the part of a disguised detective in “ The Monster,” which was being staged at Reading at the time of the murder sat and listened to a long succession of witnesses who pointed to him as a man behaving strangely outside Oliver’s shop on the evening of the crime Others gave evidence that Drew kept the theatre late that night, and that lie afterwards explained that he nad lost the trousers which he usually wore on the stage. A servant of his lodging house said that he asked for some benzolene to clean his jacket, and that he was excited and nervy. When Drew went to the court he found so many admirers in Reading that a body-guard accompanied him to and frem the court There were extra ordinary scenes in the street whenever he appeared, being cheered en route. Hundreds of women and girls and some men’followed, and gave him a great popi lar reception The popular feeling has been worked up to a remarkable pitch, as the drama is gradually approaching its climax. When Drew ap-

Reared at the adjournment women, rushed forward and shook his hand, patted his baeje and presented him with mascots. One woman gave him a lump of coal for luck, and another a spiig of white heather. There wers shouts of “ Good luck ” and “ Don’t be downhearted.” “I am quite happy, boys,” Drew shouted to the crowd. Meanwhile there was a more sober influence inside the court, where the evidence of an array of witnesses was still helping to piece together the threads of the mysterious crime. Detective-Sergeant Harris, of. Scotland Yard, told how he interviewed Drew at Nottingham. Without equivocation he told Drew he was inquiring into the Reading murder. Harris said. Drew exclaimed ‘Murder.’ lie ap peared to be shaken, he hesitated, and asked, ‘Are you accusing me? ’ Drew signed a statement, part of which was that he did not go to any shop in Reading, and had not committed the murder. lie would have liked to . ign this four times and underline it.” The detective described the dramatic scene when Drew’ was questioned a second time. He said that Drew banged the table and then began to cry, obviously under the stress of great emotion. At one point of the statement Drew ex claimed: “I couldn’t and wouldn't kill a man. I cannot understand the witnesses picking on me.” Sergeant liar ris concluded his evidence with the statement that when he interviewed Drew at Nottingham his hair was much greyer than now. “ The dye is wearing off,” he said. “ I’ve observed it change in colour while sitting in this court to-da}’.”