25 MARCH 1911, Page 27

The Testament of John Hastings. By A. C. Fox - Davies. (John

Long. 6s.)—This is the story of a murder as to which, after hang- ing the supposed criminal, the authorities have qualms, imagining that they have executed the wrong man. Accordingly the) proceed to accuse two others. There are, therefore, no fewer than three trials of persons accused of committing the murder. This is bound to prove not a little tedious. A. real cross-examina- tion is not always interesting reading, and the imitation article is apt to be long and tiresome. The account of the riots in South Wales, instigated by German spies, and the defeat of these latter by the Secret Service agents, is exciting; but, there is no one person in the story in whom it is possible to take any real interest.