The New York herald., 1922-06-13
TRUE CASE MAY COST.
HIGH OFFICIALS JOB.
Home Secretary Must Explain
Reprieve of Aviator Convicted
of Staying Girl.
ISSUE UP. IN COMMONS
Shortt Denounced for Action
Execution of Boy Murderer
Used as Comparison.

Special Cable to THE New YORK HERALD.
Copyright, 1929, 6D THE NEW YORK HnrALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
| London, June 12. I
The widespread Indignation over the
adventurer. convicted murderer of Ger
| trude Yates, young girl well known
in London's night life. took on a deli
! cate political significance in the House
| of Commons this afternoon when an
explanation was demanded of the Home
Secretary. Edward Shortt. The Secre-
tary was not in his place. but Sir John
! Baird. the Under Secretary. arose with
many folios in his hand and began to
make statement explaining why Mr..
! Shortt. after death sentence was pro-
nounced upon True, had ordered a sec
ond mental examination. True was
sent to an asylum for criminal insane
after the alenists pronounced him in
sane.
! Almost Immediately Sir John was in
terrupted and could not go on because
of the incessant cries from all parts Of
the House for Mr.. Shortt. Baird ex-
planned that the Home Secretary had
been visiting the grave of his son at
Ypres and had only just returned. Then
Stanley Holmes. who introduced the
subject asked leave to postpone the
statement until Mr.. Shortt was present.
The Speaker granted permission hint
ing that a motion for adjournment to
call attention to the matter as of pub
lie urgency might be accepted.
The press is unanimous in denounc-
ing Mr.. Shortt, who has been one of
the most popular members of the Gov
ernment. Nearly all the papers de-
mand his resignation. The jurists say
that the generation has never known
such a storm of public censure over a
man escaping the gallows.
The Times declares it is far reach
ing question. whether jurists or doctors
shall have the deciding word of JUS
tice. A flood of letters received by the
newspapers generally lament the fact
that Henry jacob. is. obviously a mis-
guided boy, should be executed for the
murder Of Lady White only the day
before True was reprieved. and there
are bitter charges that one law is for
the rich and another for the poor, be-
cause no expense was spared in True's
defense, while Jacob was practically
friendless.
True's American escapades now are
widely published in an effort to prove
that for years he has been Of a Grim
inal bent. A broader significance of
the case was indicated by Justice Avory
in charging the Grand Jury in the Devon
assizes. Referring to the light criminal
calendar, he said: II hope that this
may be taken as a symptom that the
recrudescence of crime experienced after
the war is abating. Whether II will
continue to abate. II the infliction of the
penalty of the law is to be left to the
discretion OF the experts of Harley
street very much doubt. for the only
real deterrent Of crime Is the certainty
that the appropriate penalty will follow
its commission"
The EUening Star says that sane
mans life has been saved by three mad
doctors In the meantime True is at
the Broadmoor Hospital for the Criminal
Insane. maintaining his characteristic
jocular demeanor When examined, he
was asked If he had any Identification
marks on his head. He laughed and
said: well some people say my heal
Is soft. l don't know about that my
self"
LONDON, June IL (Associated Press).
The case OF Ronald True fills columns
In this mornings newspapers. The ma
jority adopt a hostile attitude. The
Daily Mail says that IL the Government
retains him in office it will deal a blow
at public confidence in British justice
which will be exploited to the utmost by
the enemies of society.
The Westminster Gazette, on the other
hand. contends that 'the loose rumors
of social influence In favor of True
were set on foot merely to account for
an assumed Injustice" and acquits Sec
retary Shortt of any action beyond the
responsible exercise of his ordinary
powers. The mystery regarding the
name of True's mother caused much
gossip the last few days, but nothing
has developed beyond the indefinite
statement that. subsequent to True's
birth, his mother married a peer, whose
name Is not published.
His birth certificate as published by
the Sunday Express, gives his mothers
name as Annabel True. formerly Angus.
whose unmarried sister was a witness
at True's trial. His father is described
in the certificate as Journalistic
artist"
! The suggestion that his mother subse-
| quently married peer Is unsubstanti-
ated
Trues claim to the name OF Lord de
to be fraudulent.
True claimed the name De F'reyne.
declaring he was a stepson OF Lord Glen
/ Falloch of Scotland when he was SEN
| fenced to serve fifteen months In jail