THE STUART AFFAIR

Hardback. "Certain features of this case have caused us some anxiety" the High Court of Australia said in a decision which refused permission for Rupert Max Stuart to appeal against sentence of death. These words added an explosive element to the controversy which had sprung up around the young part-Aboriginal. Those against him were convinced that he had raped and murdered a 9yr old girl. Those who defended him were equally convinced that he had been forced to make the confession which condemned him. The case gained world-wide notoriety and developed into an attack on the Government of South Australia. Stuart was reprieved from death 7 times - once a few hours before he was to step onto the gallows. A Catholic priest, a University reader, and a newspaper editor were among those who fought for his acquittal. Some of the "new evidence" given on Stuart's behalf turned out to be untrue. The Government appointed a Royal Commission to discover the facts, but the defence counsel walked out and their successors fought to prevent the damning words spoken by Stuart to his wardens from being tendered as evidence. At last Stuart himself took the stand, and under cross-examination shed some light on an affair which had damaged numerous reputations and whipped up a storm of emotion. The author, who was counsel for the prosecution, has given a remarkable first-and account of a case which proves beyond doubt that "truth is stranger than fiction". Illus. + Index. 312pp. 8vo. h/back. From the library of true crime writer, Wilfred Gregg, with his personal b/plate. Browned edges o/w Vg. in sunned Vg. dw.