The Washington herald., 1907-03-23
RAYNER MUST HANG
Slayer of London Millionaire
Convicted in One Day.
CONTRAST TO THAw CASE
Great Britain Compares swiftness Of
It's Justice with Practice of Ameri-
can Murder TriaIs-subjeet Under
Sentence of Death in England Is
Generally Considered as Dead.

london, March 22.-No greater contrast
between the methods of British and
American criminal law could be afforded
than by the Thaw case in New York City
ana that Of Horace George RayneT. who
was sentenced to death here late this
afternoon for the murder of William
whitley. the well-knoWn muitimillion-
aire department-store proprietor, Of West
bourne Grove
The trial of Harry Kendall Thaw for
The murder of Stanford White began in
New York two months ago tomorrow.
Turn 10 the Rayner trial The prisoner
was arraigned this morning. q jury was
chosen before noon-in the Thaw case
it took three weeks TO I'LL the box-and
before nightfaH Lord Chief Justice Alver-
stone had put on the OminOus black cap
and sentenced the prisoner TO be hanged
Swift and terrible. indeed, is English
justice
In the ThaW case days and days have
been given over 10 the examination and
cross-examination of expert alienists.
There was. apparently. as great an oppor-
tunity in the Rayner trial for the unbur-
denlng Of medical knowledge. for the pris-
oner's sole defense was insanity but prac-
tically no expert scientific evidence was
produced by the defense. Evidently the
art Of the criminal trial alienist, which is
in fun flower across the seas. has not
even begun to sprout in this country.
No Hypothetical Questions.
And there was not a single hypothetical
question,
But it is not only in the course Of muir
der trials in America and here that grave
contrasts can be found. The treatment
accorded a convicted murderer in the two
countries is radically different.
There are no legal courts of appeal in
Great Britain for such miserable wretches
as Horace George Rayner His only hope
hes in an appeal to the home Office, the
head Of which, the Right Hon. Herbert
John Gladstone. the youngest son Of the
late premier, is not even a lawyer. And
apnvicted murderers in the past have
SbuBd that such petitions seldom, if ever,
result in staying the hand of the British
haEgman.
The general interest taken in the Ray
ner case by all London, which remembers
the victim as the first man to introduce
the American department store into the
metropolis, was evidenced by the crowded
courtroom. many women being present.
In his opening statement r. =. Muir.
counsel for the treasury, whose asser-
tions were subsequently corrOborated on
The witness stand by Louisa Turner, who
lived under Mr.. Whiteley's protection.
disposed of the fiction that Rayner was
a son Of his victim.
Mr. Muir, who conducted the prosecu-
ton, declared that the prisoner was three
years old before any member of his fam
tly had become in any way connected with
Mr.. Whiteley. At that time. in 1852, Ray
ners aunt. Louisa Turner, had been given
employment in Alr Whiteleys store. and
the following year had gone 10 live under
his protection.
Rayner Mere E'refender.
Cecil Whiteley. whom the prisoner pre-
tended 10 be when ne was in the hospital
suffering from the pistol shot which he
inflicted on himself after the murder, was
"a son by this connection, and was born
in 1855. Rayner. the prosecutor declared,
had learned Of the existence Of Cecil about
1900 and also Of Louisa Turner's cGnnec-
tiOn with Whiteley.
Continuing, Mr.. Muir described Rayner's
increasing poverty Of recent years, and
contended that the knowledge of the scan
dal In the life Of Mr.. Whiteley had led
Rayner 10 attempt 70 blackmail the mer-
chant Counsel added that the prisoner
care and deiibeTation.
Louisa Turner who was then called TO
the stand confirmed Mr.. Muir's state
ments. She testified that she and Mr..
Whitley had had a quarrel and had sep
arated in 1855. The rest of the evidence
presented in behalf of the prosecution was
merely a repetition Of the police court
testimony.
Justice Sums Up.
The lord chief justice, in summing up.
told the jury that it must dismiss any
question of sanity or insanity. II the
prisoner drew a pistol on Mr. Whiteiey
with the intention Of killing him, they
must find him guilty Of willful murder.
Before the courts charge to the jury,
counsel. for Rayner suggested recon-
mendation for mercy, and the prosecutor
said he would not oppose it.
The jury, after being absent nine min
utes. returned a verdict OF wiliful murder.
Rayner was then Immediately sentenced
10 death.
In sentencing Rayner, Lord Alverstone
said:
Il cannot hold out to you the slightest
hope that the sentence viii not be carried
into effect ! ask YOU most earnestly to
spend the time left to you in earnest COM
munion With your Maker
According 10 the English custom. Ray
ner. unless the home secretary mitigates
the penalty. will be hanged within
month. making less than three months
between the crime and the punishment.