Description

 

Conan Doyle, Arthur (1859 – 1930)

‘Justice versus the Powers of Darkness’; Conan Doyle sums up the results of the Oscar Slater case

An extraordinary approximately 10″ x 7.5″ photograph by Arthur Conan Doyle (image size 7.5″ X 5.5″). The author is shown standing beside QC Craigie Aitchison outside Edinburgh High Court, 1928, where he attended the famous court case of Oscar Slater. Boldly signed by Doyle to the lower mount in fountain pen ink. He adds, ‘The final round of a long fight. Justice versus the Powers of Darkness.’ Additionally signed by the photographer to the lower right, in pencil.

Oscar Slater (1872 – 1948) became the victim of notorious miscarriage of justice in 1908. A Jewish immigrant from German, he was accused of the murder and robbery of a woman with whom he had had only coincidental contact. Despite strong evidence to the contrary, Slater was convicted of the crimes, and sentenced to death. This was prevented due to a petition signed by 20,000 people. Still, he spent two decades in prison until his sentence was finally quashed in July 1928 in a session attended by Conan  Doyle. The present photograph was likely taken on that very day. Conan Doyle had taken a keen interest in the case, which he had compared to the Dreyfus trial, and was involved in Slater’s 1928 appeal.

A small stain to the bottom edge, a light tear to the left border and a few small surface wrinkles, otherwise in very fine condition. A superb association piece.