Alibi Wanted
Sta,-1-n his interesting review of The B.B.C.,Ifyinit Book in your issue of October 26th Canon Adam Fox, a former Professor of Poetry in the University of Oxford, after saying that "to produce a new hymn- book . . . must surely be worse than venial sin," adds this sentence: " but the B.B.C. have a perfect alibi." To see a Canon of Westminster using " alibi " in this way is really very shocking. He knows that the word means "elsewhere," and yet he uses it in the -sense, presumably, of excuse. The proper use of " alibi "• is to be seen in the famous story Sir Frank Lockwood used to tell: " I remember on one occasion defending an innocent man—it has not often fallen to my lot to defend so innocent a man. When I asked the solicitor, who instructed me about the case, to tell me what the defence was, he said: ` It is an alibi.' Said I: ` No better defence can be proffered. to any judge ; tell it to me. He said: It was on March 15th, as you are aware, that this innocent man was charged with this offence at York.' York is my own constituency, and I defend my constituents on reasonable terms. He said: ` On March 15th our client, so far from being in York, was in Manchester attending a race-meeting.' I said: I don't like it. It may offend the Nonconformist conscience.' Well,' says he, ' let that pass. He was at Blackpool' ` Where ? ' I said . Drinking at the bar of a public house, and I have got the barmaid to prove it.' This I rejected on the ground that the public- house might be a stumbling block to some. ` Well, what do you think of this ? ' says he. Wolverhampton, in a second-hand furniture-dealer's shop, buying a coffin for his mother-in-1W/, and I have got the book to' prove it.' I said: That is the alibi for our innocent man.' Well, we tried that man and he was convicted, and on the conclusion of the trial I had the opportunity of conversing with the learned judge who tried the case. Said he: That was a goodish alibi.' Said If 'It ought to be, my lord, it was the best of three '." It would be interesting to hear whether Canon Adam Fox has a perfect alibi.—Yours faithfully, TEMPLAR.
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