CONTAINS FURTHER EXTRACTS FROM THE "EVENING MOON" RELATING TO THE
GREAT PORTER SQUARE MYSTERY.
Yesterday the inquiry into the Great Porter Square mystery was resumed
at the Martin Street Police Court, before Mr. Reardon. The court was
again crowded, and the prisoner, Antony Cowlrick, was brought in
handcuffed. His appearance was, if possible, more forlorn-looking and
wretched than on the previous occasions, and his face bore the marks
of a scuffle. Mr. White Lush again appeared for the Treasury, and Mr.
Goldberry for the prisoner. As a proof of the public feeling respecting
the conduct of the police in this case we have to record that during
his progress down Martin Street towards the Magistrate's Court, Mr.
Goldberry, who has so generously come forward on behalf of the prisoner,
was loudly cheered.
Mr. White Lush rose, and stated that he was not prepared to offer any
further evidence, in consequence of the inquiries of the police not
being concluded. He applied for another adjournment of a week.
A buzz of astonishment and indignation ran through the court, which was
quickly suppressed.
Mr. Reardon: I was not prepared for this application. It is my duty to
do everything in my power to assist the course of justice, but I cannot
shut my eyes to the fact that the prisoner has now been brought before
me six times, and that on the occasion of every adjournment the police
have promised to produce evidence affecting the prisoner which up to the
present moment is not forthcoming. If it is my duty to further the ends
of justice, it is equally the duty of the police to see that it does not
lag. A suspected person--suspected with cause and reason--should not be
allowed the opportunity of escape; but some protection must be given to
a man who is presumably innocent. Since last week I have carefully gone
over and considered the evidence presented in this court with respect to
this awful and mysterious murder; and I am hardly inclined to allow the
accused to remain any longer in prison on this charge. What has Mr.
Goldberry to say?
Mr. Goldberry: I am glad--as I am sure the public will be--to hear the
expression of your worship's sentiments in the matter. It is not my
wish to excite false sympathy for the prisoner, but I would draw your
worship's attention, and the attention of the police, to the reasonable
presumption that while they are wildly hunting for evidence against an
innocent man, the criminal is being allowed every opportunity to escape
the hands of justice. It would almost seem--far be it from me to assert
that it is so, for I am sure it would be untrue--but it would almost
seem as if they were playing into the hands of the real criminal. The
only excuse that can be found for the police is, that a murder having
been committed, somebody had to be arrested and charged with its
committal, and, with this end in view, Cowlrick was indiscriminately
taken up and so charged. Zeal is a fine quality, but, when misapplied,
frequently leads to grave consequences. In my defence of the prisoner I
have had great difficulties to contend with. He has not assisted me in
the slightest degree. It is no breach of professional confidence to say
that, in my interviews with him, he has doggedly refused to give me
any information concerning himself; but as I have before asserted that
poverty and wretchedness were not to be accepted as marks of guilt, so I
now declare that the prisoner's strange reticence concerning himself is
also no crime. Nor is eccentricity a crime. I have had no opportunity
of conversing with the prisoner this morning, or of seeing him before
I entered the court a few minutes since, and I have to ask the meaning
of those marks upon his face--to which I direct your worship's
attention--and of his being handcuffed.
The police explained that on his way to Martin Street police court the
prisoner had attempted to escape, and that a struggle had taken place,
during which a constable and the prisoner had received several blows.
Mr. Goldberry asked if the constable who had been struck was present,
and the answer was given that he was not; he was on duty in another
place.
Mr. Goldberry: I will not comment upon the occurrence; in the marks upon
the prisoner's face, and in the absence of the constable who is said
to have been struck, it speaks for itself. I strenuously oppose the
application for a remand, and I demand the prisoner's discharge on the
plain grounds that there is no evidence against him.
Mr. White Lush: In the interests of justice, I ask for a further remand.
Mr. Reardon: Am I to understand that if I remand the prisoner until this
day week, you will be prepared to bring forward evidence which will
justify not only his present but his past detention?
Mr. White Lush: I am informed that such evidence will be forthcoming.
Mr. Reardon: Upon that understanding the prisoner is remanded until this
day week.
[Decoration]