(A look at some of the stories that made the news ‘back-in-the-day’ with CLIFFORD STANLEY) 
Murderer executed
A 25-YEAR-OLD man paid the extreme penalty on Tuesday morning for the murder of his reputed wife.
He is Gerard King, who was convicted at the January sessions for the murder of the woman with whom he was friendly at Wismar Demerara River.
King was executed at the Georgetown Prison at 8 o’clock in the morning. An hour later, the prison surgeon had performed a post mortem examination on the body.
Two hours later, at 11 o’clock, Dr. L.S. Jaikarran told a three-man coroner’s jury and Magistrate Dhan Jhappan that King had died from judicial hanging.
King waged a legal battle to defeat the hangman’s noose.
He was convicted by Mr. Justice Clare, and had appealed to the Criminal Court of Appeal but the appeal was dismissed.
Reports state that King had subsequently, while in Death Row, pretended to be of unsound mind. But after medical examination, he was found to be sane.
King’s trial had created a great deal of public interest. What weighed heavily against him was the medical testimony.
His account of what happened at Wismar was that the woman had died at her own hands.
He said she stabbed herself in the chest when he told her he was not going to resume a relationship with her.
But at his trial, the doctor’s testimony was that the wound, from its nature, could not have been self inflicted.
(Guiana Graphic: July 5, 1956)

(2)
Coffee exports show increase
SO FAR this year, the growing of coffee in British Guiana has earned more than $200,000 in export sales.
Coffee beans exported to Norway and the Netherlands up to the end of May this year had brought into B.G. $209,403.
During the month of May alone, shipments amounted to 206 hundredweights, which fetched a price of $19,000.
The April shipments were fixed at $41,000.
Last year’s coffee exports earned approximately $300,000.
(Guiana Graphic: July 25, 1956)

(3) New Magistrates Court
A NEW two-flat building, which will house the Magistrate’s Court and other Government Offices, is presently under construction at Weldaad, West Coast Berbice.
The building, when completed, will solve the congestion which has posed a problem for many years.
The cramped guardroom of the Weldaad Police Station, where Courts were formerly held, will now be able to provide adequate space for other Police duties.
(Guiana Graphic: August 15, 1956)

(4) Rain in August?
IT SHINES and rains these days without any reliable guide from the ‘weatherman’.
August 16, the period when the long dry season commences, was a rainy day.
The rains commenced shortly before noon yesterday, and except for a brief period between 12.30 and 1.15 pm, there were continuous showers in Georgetown.
The Graphic saw many who braved B.G’s now unpredictable weather.
Many government employees, Water Street clerks, stevedores, nurses and other workers were caught away from their homes, and had to seek shelter.
Some girls, armed with parasols for the sun, were able to brave a somewhat heavy drizzle during the lunch period to get home.
Others had to be content and wait until the rain abated.
(Guiana Graphic: August 17, 1956)

(5) Two charged with practising medicine
AN UNCLE and nephew who carry on a nature cure clinic in South Road have been charged by the Police with illegally practising surgery and medicine.
They are Mohamed Rahat and Meerza G. Ahamad.
The pair is charged with having, between July 11 and 27 last at South Road, held themselves out as being entitled to practise surgery for gain in a medical district of the colony in which a duly registered medical practitioner resides, without having registered under the Colonial Medical Services Ordinance.
Two charges of practising medicine when not duly registered have been instituted against both of them in respect of the same period of July 11, to 27.
The two men appeared before Magistrate Ronald Jailal and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Hearing of the cases has been fixed for September 25 next.
(Guiana Graphic: August 18, 1956)

(6) Kaieteur Falls impresses visitor
A WIDOWER from London finds the description of the beauty of Kaieteur Falls beyond words.
She is Mrs. Gibson, a director of the Royal Caledonian School — an institute for Scottish children — which is upkept by donations.
She arrived last week and visited the Kaieteur Falls.
Mrs. Gibson’s chief hobby is archaeology.
She has travelled to several countries to further her knowledge.
(Guiana Graphic: August 26, 1956)

(7) Wamara instruments
ONE OF B.G’s lesser known woods — the Wamara — is being shipped to ‘Boosey Hawkes’, famous instrument makers in London.
It is to be used in the manufacture of clarinets and drumsticks.
The trial shipment is being made as a result of an inquiry sent out by the firm to the Forestry Department some time ago.
‘Boosey Hawkes’ are famous manufacturers of other musical instruments, such as saxophones, drums etc.
(Guiana Graphic: August 31, 1956)

(8) Tinsmith charged with working on Sunday
THE POLICE have charged a man with working on Sunday.
He is Edgar Farley, a tinsmith of Queen Street, Kitty.
The charge accused him of having worked the trade at his home on Sunday, August 5, last.
Observing that it was a rather unusual charge, Magistrate D.P. Debiin, before whom Farley appeared, said that provided he did not annoy anyone, or his working did not interrupt anyone’s rest or meditations on things divine, he did not suppose there was anything so bad about working on Sunday.
The Prosecutor, Inspector Durant, however answered that it was under those circumstances that the charge was brought.
Farley, who is represented by Mr. Harold Phillips, pleaded not guilty.
Hearing of the case was fixed for September 14 next.
(Guiana Graphic: September 8, 1956)

(9) Mother and son die within hours
A SON died less than 24 hours after his mother. But not before he had assisted in making arrangements for her burial.
Instead, both mother and son were buried two afternoons ago.
This occurred at Good Success, Wakenaam, the victims being Mrs. Albertha Padmore and Mr. Peter Thomas.
Albertha, an aged woman, died at about 2:45 o’clock on Wednesday afternoon.
Peter, who was up and about, assisted in transporting the boards to make the coffin during the night, and even borrowed a lamp from a neighbour.
On Thursday morning, he returned to where he lived, took his tea, and was about to light his pipe when he fell speechless.
He was rushed to the government dispenser, who found that he was already dead.
(Guiana Graphic: September 15, 1956)

(10) Two rail mishaps…
15 injured, two hospitalised
TWO MISHAPS struck the railway services yesterday, one on the West Coast Demerara in the morning, resulting in 15 people being injured.
Hospitalised are two women, 26-year-old Boodram, a domestic, and 45-year-old Sancharie, a housewife.
They were both rushed to the Public Hospital Georgetown in an unconscious condition.
Among those treated and sent away were Oscar Michael, train guard of West Coast Demerara; Edwin Martin, a farmer; and Molinan of De Kinderen.
They were passengers of the morning down train travelling from Parika to Georgetown.
It is reported that at Leonora, the train went into a siding to give way to an oncoming train and collided with a carriage containing molasses.
Later i
n the day, a wagon was derailed at Letter ‘T’, East Coast Demerara, but fortunately, no one was injured.
Subsequently, trains were out of schedule for some time, but the situation was adjusted by afternoon.
(Guiana Graphic: September 18, 1956)

(Clifford Stanley can be reached to discuss any of the foregoing articles at cliffantony@gmail.com or by telephone: 657-2043)