Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-12-12
Sherlock Holmes in Real Life
TODAY'S INSTALLMENT.

(which is a prlori the more probable:
-r,a+ such an unheard- of million-to- one
..,..irerce should have occurred, or that
.,o notice. having committed themselves
O. -be theory that he was the murderer,
refused to admit that they were wrong
,-bar the bottom fell out of the original
,oga and persevered in the hope that
,.,o,e ldentifications of queer looking
,,raig7er would justify their original ac-
ion outside these identifications, must
r,neat once again, there is nothing TO
,,rrIe Slater with the murder. or to show
chat he ever knew. or could have known
,,at such a person as Miss Gilchrist ex-
lsted.
The admirable memorial for a reprieve
drawn up by the solicitors for the de-
sarse was signed by 10000 members of
the public, and had the effect of chang
ing the death sentence to one of penal
seryitude for life.
The sentence was passed on May s. For
twenty days the man was left in doubt,
and the written reprieve only arrived on
rime for the execution. on July S Slater
was conveyed TO the Peterhead convict
nrison. There he has now been for three
Years. and there he still remains.
can not help in my own mind compar-
ing the case of oscar Slater with another,
which [ had occasion to examine-that of
George Edalji.
must admit that they are not of the
same class George Edalji was youth
of exemplary character Oscar Slater
was a blackguard. George Edalji was
physically incapable of the crime for
which he suffered three years imprison-
meut years for which he has not re-
ceived, after his innocence was estab-
Hshed, one shilling of compensation from
the nation oscar Slater might con-
ceiyaby have committed the murder, but
the balance of proof and probability seems
entirely against it.
Thus one can not feel the same burn
ing sense of injustice over the matter.
And vet | trust for the sake of our char
acter not only for justice, but for intel
igence that the judgment may in some
way be reconsidered and the mans
present punishment allowed to atone for
those Irregularities of life which helped
to make his conviction possible.
Before leaving the case, it is interest
ing to see how far this curious crime may
be reconstructed and whether any posi-
bic light can be thrown upon it, Using
second hand material, one can lbot hope
10 DO more than indicate cartain POSSIBLE
tiles which may already have been con-
sidered and tested by the police.
THE POLICE WAY.
The trouble, however with all police
prosecutions is that, having once got what
they imagine to be their man, they are
not very open to any line of investiga-
lion which might lead to other conclu-
sions. Everything which will not fit into
the official theory is liable to be eX-
Guided
one might make a few isolated com
ments on the case which may at least give
rise TO some interesting trains of thought.
one question which has to be asked was
whether the assassin was after the
jewels at all 1t might be urged that
the type of man described by the spec
tators was by no means that of the or
binary thief
When he reached the bed room and lit
the gas, he did not at once seize the
watch and rings which were lying open
~ exposed upon the dressing table. He
did not pick up half sovereign which
was lying on the dining room table. His
attention was given to a wooden box,
the lid of which he wrenched open.
iThis, I think, was the breaking of
sticks heard by Adams,) The papers
IN it were strewed on the ground Were
the papers his object, and the final alb
straction of one diamond brooch mere
plnd? Personally, l can only point out
the possibility of such a solution,
On the other hand, it might be urged
II the thiefs action seems inconsequen-
liaA that Adams had rung, and that be