COOL SLAYER.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 471, 4 June 1932, Page 22 (Supplement)

COOL SLAYER.

REJECTED BY TYPIST. UNMOVED AT SENTENCE OF DEATH. MURDER IX LONDON STREET. Maurice Freedman, aged 36, a traveller, was sentenced to death at the Old Bailey for the murder of Annie Friedson, a city typist, of C lapton E., who was found dying on the stairs leading to iler office in Fore Street, K.C. Freedman, who was at one time a policeman, stood unmoved while, Mr. Justice Hawke donned the black cap and passed sentence of death. He then walked firmly to the cells. Previously Freedman, who took the oath in Jewish fashion—with his hat on — explained how the girl was wounded. He said she was his sweetheart, and had mtt kept appointments with him. He went to Fore Street on the chance of seeing her, and saw her going into the office. “ I went up to her,” he said, “ and said ‘Hello. Ann! ’ She said, ‘I cannot stop.’ I said, ' Where were you on Sunday? ’ She said, ‘ I told them at home that I would not see you again.’ I said, ‘ls that what you call giving me another chance? ’ " As we walked upstairs together I said to her, * Don't leave me. You know we

love one another. When shall I see you “ She said. ‘ T don’t think I will see vou any more.’ I said, • Don’t leave me. You know I w ill do something to myself if you do.’ As T said this I took the razor from my pocket and put it towards my throat. 1 thought it might cause her to change her mind towards me. I had no intention of using it on her or on myself. She caught hold ot my hand and pulled. I pulled also. I here was a struggle and I saw' her fall.” Lost Courage and Ran Away. When he saw Miss Friedson fall, he continued, he became afraid, got bewildered and ran away. By back streets, he reached the Bank, and there boarded a bus to Aldgate. He then got a tram and walked along the side of the canal, into which lie threw the razor. He after visited the Astoria cinema at Jjinsbury Park and went to Euston, in which neighbourhood lie spent the night. Next morning lie was arrested. _ Mr. Bernard B. Gillis (for Freedman) - : Did you decide in Fore Street to kill her? 1 never gave it a thought. Had ou any reason to bo ancrv with this girl?—l loved her too much to nave any quarrel with her. you at . iU ]y time want to have re\ engc upon her.'—l had no cause whatall 1 ?—No° U intenc! to cl ° her an S r harm at Sir Percival Clarke (cross-examining): Had you decided that if you did not hSL m ‘ m°ucT y 6 30 silon,d? — ll nev ~er entered pause ,‘° whether this fl ?VEU SO much was seriously hurt? Something came over me that I really cannot explain. y J ustic e Hawke: How did your razor and puUedTt? S °‘ h ° ld o£ my h ™ d Replying to further questions by Sir lercival, Freedman said that when Miss fhi r= OD cau ß.ht hold of his hand with " , ‘ n , *t he was caught unawares and did not know what happened. Sir Percival: She was caught unawares, wasnt sue .-sAot by my hand. . Aft ,? r a " absence of half an hour, the jury iound I‘reedinan guilty of murder. Asked whether he had anything to aav l- reedman replied in a firm voice, “ No, Ike death sentence was then passed.