REFORM OF CRIMINAL.

Wairarapa Age, 15 December 1920, Page 5

REFORM OF CRIMINAL.

AFTER MANY YEARS. (By Telegraph - -Press Association.) OHTthSTCHnHCIi, Last Tn C hristohureh on November ITth. 1009, Arthur J. W. Roberts was found guilty of the murder of a waitress in the Silver Grid Restaurant in Manchester street. Roberts was sent-M-icod to death, but the sentence was niter wards commuted to imprisonment *'ov life. The Prisons Board has nor decided, to recommend Roberts iV-r release on probation in twelve, months' time, provided his conduct uiJ. industry give satisfaction in the meantime and his mental eon iithri remains as at present. At Roberts' trial it was disclosed that he was in iove with the )>,irl he murdered, but that he was not tho only suitor. Roberts, apparently, became jealous, and after gaining admittance to tho girl's room committed the crime. He then bolted, but was arrested a day or two afterwards. The' defence put forward by W J. Hunter at the trial was that of insanity. While the jury was not coi vinced that insanity had been established, it had doubts as to Roberts' mental condition at the time of the murder. It was Mr Hunter who made representations to the Prisons Board for the prisoner's release, claiming that prison life had wrought a wonderful improvement in his physical and mental condition. If ho wove released he would go to Scotland and start afresh there. Roberts is now about thirty-two years old.