Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-09-16

And Brian, stepping down from the
dock free man. passed through crowd
of congratulnting friends to small room
of the court, where q woman was waiting
for him-a woman who chung round his
neck, and sobbed out
my darling! My darling! j knew
that God would save you"
CHAPTER XX.
The morning after the trial WAS con-
cluded the following article in reference TO
the matter 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 IS The Hanson Cab Ira
gedy.' We can safely say that it is the
most remarkable case which has ever come
uuder the notice of our Criminal Court,
and the verdict given by the jury yes
terdsy has enveloped the matter in
still deeper mystery. BY a
train Of strange condolences, Mr.. Brian
Fitzgerald, young squstter, was suspected
IF having murdered Whyte, snd had it not
been for the timely appearance OF the
woman Rawlins, who turned up at the
eleventh hour, we feel sure that a YER
dict of guilty would have been given,
and an innocent man would have
suffered punishment for the crime OF
another. Fortunately for the pris-
oner, and for the interests Of justice, his
counsel, Mr.. Gallon, by unwesried dill
yence. WAS able tOdiscovsr thu lost witness,
and prove an abb. Had il not been for
this, in spite of the remarks made by the
learned counsel in bis brilliant speech
Yesterday, which resulted in the acquittal
Of the prisoner, we question very much If
the rest of the evidence in favor OF tbs
accused would have been sufficient
to persuade thu jury that ne
vas an innocent man. The
poly points in favor of Mr.. Fitzgerald were
the inability of the cabman Royston to
Iwear to him as the man who had got into
the cab with Whyte, the wearing OF q
diamond ring on the forefnger of the right
hand whereas Mr.. Fitzgerald wears no
riugs), aud the difference in time sworn to
by the csbman Rankin and the lsndlady.
Against these points, however, the prose-
cution placed q mass of evidence, which
seemed to couclusively prove the guilt Of
the prisoner; but the appearance Of Sal
Rswlius in the witness-box put an end TO
all doubt. 10 Language which could NOT
IA mistaken for Anything else than the
truth, she positively swore that Mr.. Fitz-
gerald was In one of the slums of Bourke
street between the hours of one and two
ON Friday morning, at which time the
murder was committed. Under these cir
eumstances, the Jury unanimously agreed
in the verdict, Not guilty. and the pris-
0uer was forthwith acquitted. We have
20 congratulate his counsel, Mr.. Cation,
tor the able speech he made for the de-
fence, and also Mr.. Fitzgerald, for his
providential escape from q dishonoraele
and undeseryed punishment. He leaves
the court without q stain on
mis- character, and with the respect and
sympathy of all Australians, for the cour-
age and dignity with which he comported
himself throughout, while resting under
the shadow of such serions charge.
"But now that it has been conolu-
sively proved that ne is Innocent, the
question arises in every ones mind,
Who is the murderer of Oliver
Whyte?' The man who COM
committed this dastardly crime is still at
large, and. for all we know, may be 10 our
midst. Emboldened by the IMMUNITY
with which be has escaped the hands OF
Justice, be may be walking securely down
our streets and talking of the very crime OF
which he is the perpetrator. Secure in
the thought that all traces OF him
have been lost forever, from the time
ne alighted from Rsnkin's cab, at
Powlett street, he has likely ventured to
remain in Melbourne, and, for all that
anyone knows, may have been in the court
during theI trial. Nay, this very arti-
Gle for which his crime has furnished the
necessity Of its being written, may meet
his eye, and he may rejoice at the futile
efforts which have been made to find him
But let him beware, Justice is not blind,
but blindfolded, and when he least expects
VI, she will tear the bandsge from
her keen eyes, and drag him forth to the
light of day to receive the reward OF his
deed. Owing to the strong evidence against
Fitzgerald, that is the ouiy direction IN
which the detectives have hitherto looked,
but bsffled on one side, they will look on
the other, and this time may be successful.
THAT such a man as the murderer OF
Oliver Whyte should be at large is mat
ter of danger, not only to individual citi-
zsns, but to tine community ut large; for 1t
is q well-kn0wn fact that a tiger who once
tastes human blood never overeomes bis
craving for it; and without doubt, the man
who so dsringly and coolly murdered q
drunken, and therefore defenceless man,
will not hesitate about committing second
crime. The present feeling of sill classes
in Melbourne must be one of terror, that
such man should be at large, and must,
in q great measure, resemble the fear which
filed eyeryone's heart in London when
the Mari murders were committed, and
il was known that the murderer had es-
capped. Anyone who has read De Quiney's
graphic description of thscrime perpstrsted
by Williams must tremble to think that
such another devil incarnate is in our
midst. It is an imperative necessity tnst
such feeling should be done away with.
Bat how is this to be'managedP II IL one
thing 10 speak, and another to act There
seems to be no possible clue discoverable
at present which can lead to the discovery
of the real murderer. The man in the
light coat who got cut of Rsnkin's cab at
Powlett Street, East Melbourne (desigaed-
ly, as it now appears, in order to throw
suspicion on Fitzgersld), hss vanished IS
completely as the witches in Macbeth, and
left no trace behind. 10 was two o'clock
in the morning when be left the cab, and,
IN quiet suburb like East Melbourne, no
one would be about, so that he could easily
escape unseen. There seems to be only
one chance Of ever tracing him, and tina.
is to be found in the papers which were