Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-18
CHAPTER XX
THE ARGUS GIVES ITS OPT,
! I knew that God

THE ARGUS GIVES ITS OPINION,
 The morning after the trial was concluded the following article in reference to the mat ter appeared in The Argus:
 During the past three months we have frequently in our columns commented on the extraordinary case which is now so widely known as The Hanson Cab Tragedy We can safely say that it is the most remarkable case which has ever come under the notice of our criminal court, and the verdict given by the jury yesterday has enveloped the matter: Ill q still deepen mystery. By train af strange coincidences, MT, Brian Fitzgerald, a young squatter, was suspected of having murdered Whyte, and had it not been for the timely appearance of the woman Rawlins who turned up at the eleventh hour, we feel sure that verdict of guilty would have been given, and an innocent man would have suf- fered punishment for the crime of another Fortunately for the prisoner, and for the in terests of justice, his counsel, Mir Calton. bF unwearied diligence, was able to discover the last witness and prove an alibi Had it not been for this, in spite of the remarks made by the learned counsel in his brilliant speech yesterday, which resulted in the acquittal of the prisoner, we question very much if the rest of the evidence in favor of the accused would have been sufficient to persuade the Jury that he was an innocent man. The only points in favor of MT. Fitzgerald were the inability of the cahman Royston to swear to him as the man who had got into the cab with Whyte, the wearing of diamond ring on the forefnger of the right hand (whereas MT. Fitzgerald wears no rings), and the diff ference in time sworn to by the cabman Rankin and the landlady. Against these points, however, the prosecution placed mass Of evidence, which seemed to oonclu- ho tnf %hA the appearance of Sal Rawlins in the witness box put m end to all doubt In language that could not be mistaken for anything else than the truth, she positively swore that Mir. Fitzgerald was in one of the slums off Bourke street between the hours of and on Friday morning, at which time the murder was committed. Under these circumstances. thu jury unanimously agreed in the verdict. ".:Nat guilty,s and the prisoner was forth with acquitted. We have to congratulate his counsel, Mir. Calton, for the able speech he made for the defense, and also Mir, Ritz gerald, for his providential escape from a. dishonorahle and undeserved punishment. He leaves the court without a stain on his character, and with the respect and sym pathy of all Australians, for the courage and dignity with which he comported himself throughout, while resting under the shadow of such 8 serious charge
 "But now that it has been conclusively proved that he is innocent, the question arises in every ones mind, Who is the murderer of Oliver Whyteq The man who committed this dastardly crime is still at large, and, for all we know, may be in our midst, es;.s'' sS''
 "There seems seems te be nd possible clew discov- eTaple at present which can lead to the dis, covery of the real murderer. The man in the light coat who got out of Rankin,s cab at Powlett street, East Melbourne tdesignedly,