Oscar Slater's Appeal From Gaol - Revision history

TCDE-Team at 19:00, 20 April 2026

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	''Oscar Slater's Appeal From Gaol'' is an article published in [[The People]] on 1 february 1925.		''Oscar Slater's Appeal From Gaol'' is an article published in [[The People]] on 1 february 1925.

	The article ~~includes a~~ [[~~#Conan Doyle's View\|letter~~]] from [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]] ~~expressing~~ his view on the ~~case~~.		The article reports that [[Oscar Slater]], still imprisoned after more than fifteen years, secretly smuggled an appeal from Peterhead Convict Prison to [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]], thanking him for past efforts and begging him to renew the fight for his release. It also presents [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]]'s forceful view that Slater was innocent, wrongly convicted on weak and contradictory evidence during a wave of public hysteria, and unjustly kept in prison beyond the usual term for such a sentence.

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TCDE-Team at 18:14, 20 April 2026

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	There is in Peterhead, as in all penal settlements to-day, a debating class, which the highest class of prisoner is allowed to join.		There is in Peterhead, as in all penal settlements to-day, a debating class, which the highest class of prisoner is allowed to join.

	~~----------------------~~

	A few days ago Slater handed a small object to one of his fellows at a debate. The latter was due for release — any day, then, he might be going.		A few days ago Slater handed a small object to one of his fellows at a debate. The latter was due for release — any day, then, he might be going.

TCDE-Team at 17:20, 20 April 2026

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	=== Conan Doyle's View ===		=== Conan Doyle's View ===

	'''"Cry of One Rotting in a PR."'''		'''"Cry of One Rotting in a Pit."'''

	Sir Arthur Conan Doyle writer to the Editor of "The People" as follows:-- "~~Bra~~,-I have heard a cry for help ~~ich~~ has moved me. It is like the of one who is ~~rolling~~ in some ~~ible~~ pit, and who utters helpless in the hope that come passer- hear him voice is that of the man Oper the pit is Peterhead Convict which he, an innocent man, lying for over fifteen years. For he is an innocent man. I pro claimed my conviction upon that point not very long after his condemnation, and all fresh evidence and reflection have confirmed my belief.		[[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]] writer to the Editor of "[[The People]]" as follows:— <q>"Sir, — I have heard a cry for help which has moved me. It is like the voice of one who is rotting in some terrible pit, and who utters helpless screams in the hope that come passer-by hear him.</q>
	"I do not understand how any man can read the story of the trial with ntion and come to any other con asion. Sir Herbert Stephen declared that there was not even a prime fact Case against him. and I believe every English jurist would say the same, but he was condemned during one of those aves of hysterical passion when the blic in blind indignation at some Grime must have a victim
	~~As it was, the jury of fifteen en- demned him by a vote of nine to six and would certainly not have con dened him at all if the extra evidence which came out before the Commission had been available~~
	~~"I have said that he has been in ee Aften veare~~. ~~There is much virtue in that over, for Afteen wears is the wul time of release in life sentences in Scotland. if the prisoner has ne have himself well. Why, then, has poor Slater overstayed his time?~~
	~~"I hope that the present Secretary for Scotland will probe deeply into this matter, brushing aside all formal om- rial excuse-Years faithfully. ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE."~~

			<q>"The voice is that of the man [[Oscar Slater]], and the pit is Peterhead Convict Prison, in which he, an innocent man, has been lying for over fifteen years.</q>

			<q>"For he is an innocent man. I proclaimed my conviction upon that point not very long after his condemnation, and all fresh evidence and reflection have confirmed my belief.</q>

			<q>"I do not understand how any man can read the story of the trial with attention and come to any other conclusion. Sir Herbert Stephen declared that there was not even a ''prima facie'' case against him, and I believe every English jurist would say the same, but he was condemned during one of those waves of hysterical passion when the public in blind indignation at some crime must have a victim.</q>

			<q>"As it was, the jury of fifteen condemned him by a vote of nine to six and would certainly not have condemned him at all if the extra evidence which came out before the Commission had been available.</q>

			<q>"I have said that he has been in over fifteen years. There is much virtue in that 'over,' for fifteen years is the usual time of release in life sentences in Scotland, if the prisoner has behaved himself well. Why, then, has poor Slater overstayed his time?</q>

			<q>"I hope that the present Secretary for Scotland will probe deeply into this matter, brushing aside all formal official excuses. — Yours faithfully.</q>

			<q>ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE."</q>

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	A few days ago Slater handed a small object to one of his fellows at a debate. The latter was due for release — any day, then, he might be going.		A few days ago Slater handed a small object to one of his fellows at a debate. The latter was due for release — any day, then, he might be going.



	: The tiny object was the size of a peanut. It was of paper — glased paper, containing further paper within.		: The tiny object was the size of a peanut. It was of paper — glased paper, containing further paper within.
Line 41:		Line 39:
	: "Take it to [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]]," said Slater. "If you are caught with it, I will bear the blame. I can't suffer more than I have."		: "Take it to [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]]," said Slater. "If you are caught with it, I will bear the blame. I can't suffer more than I have."

			A day or two later the convict in possession of the pellet was told to prepare himself for release.

			He was stripped naked. His clothes were searched. Warders ran their hands over him to ascertain that he was carrying away nothing forbidden.

			He was passed, and released.

			In the train for Aberdeen he took quietly from his mouth the pellet entrusted to him. No one was watching, so he examined it.

			The glased paper forming the outside surface was not damaged. The moisture of his mouth had not penetrated to the inside.

	~~If you are~~		Within was a small sheet of the thinnest tissue paper, not larger than eight inches by six.
	~~ear the bla we then I h~~
	~~or two later. L~~
	~~possession~~ of the ~~pellet wa prepare himself for release.~~
	ta
	~~old to~~
	~~He was stripped naked. His clothes were searched. Warders ran their hands over him to ascertain that he wes carrying away nothing forbidden. He was ed, and released. In the~~
	~~in the train~~
	~~deen he took the pellet was wa~~
	~~where Sir Arthur Con~~
	~~trained on to Tondon.~~
	~~he wrote letter~~, ~~artdressed mere these words~~
	~~Sir Arthur Conan~~
	~~The Post~~
	~~wiftly~~. He
	~~Just back days the ex-C from the author At the meeting writing was exam~~
	~~Sloter In then~~
	~~Sir~~
	~~anything could~~

			Upon it was written the smallest lettering imaginable. The convict, from now and in a commonplace railway compartment, could only see that it was addressed to [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]].

			He knew [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] as the creator of [[Sherlock Holmes]], but he did not know that years before [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] had written a pamphlet proving to the satisfaction of many sound people that Slater's conviction was a manifest miscarriage of justice.

			"The case," he had written, "... originated in a false clue and was supported by most untrustworthy evidence."

			The man in the train did not even know where [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]] lived.

	~~CONAN DOYLE'S VIEW.~~		So he trained on to London, and there he wrote a letter, addressed merely in these words:—
	~~"Cry of One Rotting in a PR."~~
	Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ~~writer to the Editor of "The People" as follows:-- "Bra~~,-I have heard a cry for help ich has moved me. It is like the of one who is rolling in some ible pit, and who utters helpless in the hope that come passer- hear him voice is that of the man Oper the pit is Peterhead Convict which he, an innocent man, lying for over fifteen years. For he is an innocent man. I pro claimed my conviction upon that point not very long after his condemnation, and all fresh evidence and reflection have confirmed my belief.		Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, London.
	~~"I do not understand how any man can read the story of the trial with ntion and come to any other con asion~~. ~~Sir Herbert Stephen declared that there~~ was ~~not even a prime fact Case against him. and I believe every English jurist would say the same~~, ~~but he was condemned during one of those aves of hysterical passion when the blic in blind indignation at some Grime must have a victim~~
	As it ~~was~~, the ~~jury of fifteen en~~- ~~demned him by~~ a ~~vote of nine to six and would certainly not have con dened him at all if~~ the ~~extra evidence which came out before~~ the ~~Commission had been available~~		The Post Office found [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle\|Sir Arthur]] swiftly. He was, as it chanced, only just back from abroad , but within two days the ex-convict received a reply from the author's flat near Victoria.
	~~"I have said that he has been in ee Aften veare. There is much virtue in that over, for Afteen wears is~~ the ~~wul time~~ of ~~release in life sentences in Scotland. if the prisoner has ne have himself well. Why, then, has poor Slater overstayed his time?~~
	~~"I hope that the present Secretary for Scotland will probe deeply into this matter, brushing aside all formal om- rial excuse-Years faithfully. ARTERS ORDAN DOTLE~~."		At the meeting the smuggled actes of writing was examined under a microscope.

			Slater made no despairing appeal, but in thanking [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle\|Sir Arthur]] for all his efforts in the past he betrayed the new hopelessness of mind that had come to him on learning that no release was coming at the normal period of fifteen years.

	~~----------------------~~		If anything could be done, he said, he knew [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle\|Sir Arthur]] would do it. Meanwhile, the knowledge of "[[Sherlock Holmes]]'s" efforts to secure justice for him had helped him to endure his long punishment.
	~~----------------------~~
	knew [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle\|Sir Arthur]] would do it. Meanwhile, the knowledge of "[[Sherlock Holmes]]'s" efforts to secure justice for him had helped him to endure his long punishment.

	: Slater seems to have cared nothing for any additional penalties that might be inflicted upon him for endeavouring to smuggle a letter out of gaol.		: Slater seems to have cared nothing for any additional penalties that might be inflicted upon him for endeavouring to smuggle a letter out of gaol.
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	=== Conan Doyle's View ===		=== Conan Doyle's View ===

			'''"Cry of One Rotting in a PR."'''

			Sir Arthur Conan Doyle writer to the Editor of "The People" as follows:-- "Bra,-I have heard a cry for help ich has moved me. It is like the of one who is rolling in some ible pit, and who utters helpless in the hope that come passer- hear him voice is that of the man Oper the pit is Peterhead Convict which he, an innocent man, lying for over fifteen years. For he is an innocent man. I pro claimed my conviction upon that point not very long after his condemnation, and all fresh evidence and reflection have confirmed my belief.
			"I do not understand how any man can read the story of the trial with ntion and come to any other con asion. Sir Herbert Stephen declared that there was not even a prime fact Case against him. and I believe every English jurist would say the same, but he was condemned during one of those aves of hysterical passion when the blic in blind indignation at some Grime must have a victim
			As it was, the jury of fifteen en- demned him by a vote of nine to six and would certainly not have con dened him at all if the extra evidence which came out before the Commission had been available
			"I have said that he has been in ee Aften veare. There is much virtue in that over, for Afteen wears is the wul time of release in life sentences in Scotland. if the prisoner has ne have himself well. Why, then, has poor Slater overstayed his time?
			"I hope that the present Secretary for Scotland will probe deeply into this matter, brushing aside all formal om- rial excuse-Years faithfully. ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE."

TCDE-Team: Created page with "''Oscar Slater's Appeal From Gaol'' is an article published in The People on 1 february 1925. The article includes a letter from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle expressing his view on the case. TOC == Oscar Slater's Appeal From Gaol == [[The People (1 february 1925, p. 1)

Oscar Slater as he was when convicted of murder sixteen years ago.]]..."

2026-04-20T16:30:08Z

Created page with "''Oscar Slater's Appeal From Gaol'' is an article published in The People on 1 february 1925. The article includes a letter from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle expressing his view on the case. __TOC__ == Oscar Slater's Appeal From Gaol == thumb|250px|right|[[The People (1 february 1925, p. 1)<br /><br />Oscar Slater as he was when convicted of murder sixteen years ago.]]..."

New page

''Oscar Slater's Appeal From Gaol'' is an article published in [[The People]] on 1 february 1925.

The article includes a [[#Conan Doyle's View|letter]] from [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]] expressing his view on the case.

__TOC__

== Oscar Slater's Appeal From Gaol ==
[[File:the-people-1925-02-01-p1-oscar-slater-s-appeal-from-gaol.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[The People]] (1 february 1925, p. 1)<br /><br />[[Oscar Slater]] as he was when convicted of murder sixteen years ago.]]

'''How Message was Smuggled out in Convict's Mouth.'''

'''NO RELEASE: CRY TO CONAN DOYLE.'''

'''A last message of appeal sent by [[Oscar Slater]], doubtful murderer of times, to [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]], who championed the cause of his innocence sixteen years ago.'''

'''Slater has served sixteen years' penal servitude, being reprieved after 20,000 persons had urged in a petition that the evidence was sufficient to convict him.'''

'''His message to the famous criminologist was smuggled out of Peterhead Convict Prison a few days ago in a most remarkable way. A released convict bore it out concealed in his mouth.'''

When convicts are due for release, it is a custom for their fellows to give them a "send off" — usually a concert, with farewell cheers and handshakes.

So, a few months ago, a group of prisoners in Peterhead Gaol, Aberdeen shire, waited upon the Governor for permission to give a farewell concert for one of the longest-served then in the place, [[Oscar Slater]], who was seat, in 1900, to penal servitude for life for the murder of a maiden lady, Miss Marion Gilchrist, at Glasgow.

No intimation had been given to Slater that he was to be freed. But he had served 15 years — and it is most unusual for a man to be kept in captivity for a longer term than that, even if he is a reprieved murderer.

Slater? No, was the reply, there was no sign of release for Slater.

The man, grey now and bald, remains at Peterhead, still presenting his innocence to fellow-convicts, and still the subject of argument in the world outside.

There is in Peterhead, as in all penal settlements to-day, a debating class, which the highest class of prisoner is allowed to join.

----------------------

A few days ago Slater handed a small object to one of his fellows at a debate. The latter was due for release — any day, then, he might be going.

: The tiny object was the size of a peanut. It was of paper — glased paper, containing further paper within.
: Slater asked the man going out to take this pellet out with him.
: "Take it to [[Arthur Conan Doyle|Conan Doyle]]," said Slater. "If you are caught with it, I will bear the blame. I can't suffer more than I have."

If you are
ear the bla we then I h
or two later. L
possession of the pellet wa prepare himself for release.
ta
old to
He was stripped naked. His clothes were searched. Warders ran their hands over him to ascertain that he wes carrying away nothing forbidden. He was ed, and released. In the
in the train
deen he took the pellet was wa
where Sir Arthur Con
trained on to Tondon.
he wrote letter, artdressed mere these words
Sir Arthur Conan
The Post
wiftly. He
Just back days the ex-C from the author At the meeting writing was exam
Sloter In then
Sir
anything could

CONAN DOYLE'S VIEW.
"Cry of One Rotting in a PR."
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle writer to the Editor of "The People" as follows:-- "Bra,-I have heard a cry for help ich has moved me. It is like the of one who is rolling in some ible pit, and who utters helpless in the hope that come passer- hear him voice is that of the man Oper the pit is Peterhead Convict which he, an innocent man, lying for over fifteen years. For he is an innocent man. I pro claimed my conviction upon that point not very long after his condemnation, and all fresh evidence and reflection have confirmed my belief.
"I do not understand how any man can read the story of the trial with ntion and come to any other con asion. Sir Herbert Stephen declared that there was not even a prime fact Case against him. and I believe every English jurist would say the same, but he was condemned during one of those aves of hysterical passion when the blic in blind indignation at some Grime must have a victim
As it was, the jury of fifteen en- demned him by a vote of nine to six and would certainly not have con dened him at all if the extra evidence which came out before the Commission had been available
"I have said that he has been in ee Aften veare. There is much virtue in that over, for Afteen wears is the wul time of release in life sentences in Scotland. if the prisoner has ne have himself well. Why, then, has poor Slater overstayed his time?
"I hope that the present Secretary for Scotland will probe deeply into this matter, brushing aside all formal om- rial excuse-Years faithfully. ARTERS ORDAN DOTLE."

----------------------
----------------------
knew [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle|Sir Arthur]] would do it. Meanwhile, the knowledge of "[[Sherlock Holmes]]'s" efforts to secure justice for him had helped him to endure his long punishment.

: Slater seems to have cared nothing for any additional penalties that might be inflicted upon him for endeavouring to smuggle a letter out of gaol.

"Do all you can! Get it out! Get everyone interested you can!" he enjoined his friend as they parted.

"Never mind what happens to me — it's my innocence that matters."

[[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]] is addressing himself once more to the Secretary for Scotland on Slater's behalf.

The victim was an old lady who collected jewellery. She was found dying in her Glasgow flat, and two persons saw a strange man leaving. A passer-by also saw a hurrying man.

The descriptions given by these three witnesses, and by twelve other persons who had seen a loitering stranger, varied widely.

The police heard later that a German Jew of disreputable habits had pawned a diamond brooch similar to one missing from the flat. He had left for America, but was arrested in New York.

He — Oscar Slater — consented to return for trial. It was shown that the pawned brooch was his own, but he was found guilty on the evidence.

However unsavoury Slater's record may have been, independent examiners of the evidence declared that there was nothing to link him with the actual crime.

Slater's case was greatly damaged in the eyes of many people by the fact that he did not go into the witness-box to give evidence on his own behalf. This, as the [[Arthur Conan Doyle|Conan Doyle]] pamphlet said, should very properly be taken as a sign of weakness.

In the memorial for reprieve, the prisoner's solicitor said that Slater was all along anxious to give evidence himself, but was advised not to.

=== Conan Doyle's View ===

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