The Warwickshire Herald. — 1894-01-04 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

ALLEGED MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE. STARTLING STATEMENT. Respecting the case of the young man William HIM* or Haines, now lying under sentence of death for the murder of the girl Florence Clifford, at Aston, the Birmingham Daily Gantt* says: In January or February, 1889, & woman named Dean was badly stabbed in the back on the Old Fleck, at Aston. The miscreant who inflicted the injury was not captured at the time, but a few ffpys afterwards a stonemason named William Butler, living in Clifton-road, Moseley,was arrested on suspicion. He was Ant associated with the crime by the fact thee be was in the habit of wearing a peculiar black mid whit* muffler and corduroy trousers. Three witnesses swore positively te his identity, and be war *omitted to the sessions. A singular incident at the trial attracted some attention. In the court was noticed • man whose resemblance to the prisoner was most striking. This person watched the progress of the case with the closest attention, but, un ortunately for the prisoner, his sympathy had nothing in common with that displayed by Sydney Carton during the trial of Evremonde for treason in Dickens's well-known work,and although It is now maid that more than one of the witnesses, considering the persistence with wLich Butler asserted his innocence, and noticing the striking resemblance to him of "the man in court," wavered somewhat in the positiveness of his identification, their evidence outweighed the declaration of the prisoner's father that his son was at home on the night of the assault, and he was convicted and sentenced to 15 months' hard labour. This sentence he was serving at Winson Green when Haines was sent to gaol on a commitment for 12 months for housebreaking. He managed to communicate to Butler the startling fa* that be was the man whose appearance in court had created so much sensation,and that it was he who had aimmated the crime for which Butler was suffering. Butler, however, fearing punishment for having broken prison rules by speaking to another convict, declined to invoke the interference of the authorities, and decided to serve out his sentence. This he did, and, not knowing the man who had made the mysterious confession to him, he thought little of the matter until about • month ago, when he received a letter from Haines, then in Willson Green Gaol awaiting trial for the murder for which be is now about to suffer the extreme penalty of the law,offering to confess to the crime if he (Butler) thought it would be of any service to him. Butler did nothing beyond *ening the letter to friends until Wednesday. He then consulted Mr. F. Hooper, solicitor, who is now laying the facts of the case before die Horne Secretary. Butler is, of course, elated at the prospect of thus clearing his character of the dreadful stigma which has hitherto been attached to it, and as Haines declares he was wearing trousers and a muffler similar in colour to those which led to the arrest of Butler there is little doubt that, on a properly-attested confession being taken, it will be found that the unfortunate man Mains. was the real culprit. It would then be apparent that a gross injustice has been done to Butler, and the hope is expressed that some reparation for the miscarriage of padre which swam from an extraordinary collusion of circumstances will be effected by the grant to him of some sub. stantial pecuniary compensation.  Of all sad words that ever have hit him, the saddest are these: "His clothes don't fit him." The identical article.—Dick: "Did she return T n our love ?" Harry: "Yea; said she had no use "How many foreign languages can your wife speak ? " "Three—French, German, and the one she talks to the baby." He (poetical): "Ah, who can express the power of love?" She (practical): "I nen. It's two. donkey power." Powell's Balsam of Aniseed—For Coughs. Powell's Balsam of Aniseed. Asthma.. Powell's Balsam of Aniseed. Bronchitis. Powell's Balsam of Aniseed. Hoarseness. Powell's Balsam of Aniseed. Lung Troubles. Powell's Belem of Aniseed. Night Gough'. Powell's Balsam of AniseseL Whims. Powell's Balsam of Aniseed. Relieved Instantly. Powell's Balsam of Aniseed. Safe and Reliable. Powell's Balsam of Aniseed. Eetablished 10• Powell's Balsam of Aniseed. Refuse Tmi 12.2 Balm. of Aniseed. Bold by Powell's Belem of Aniseed. Trade Mirk Powell's Belem of Anima. Lion, Net, sod idhuis. Powell's Wass of Aniseed. Is. lid., ala 41. 6d., mod IL. per bade.