31 MAY 1913, Page 2

The trial of Mr. Cecil Chesterton on an indictment for

criminal libel began on Tuesday before Mr. Justice Phillimore, and continued throughout the week. The mass of evidence is so great that we cannot attempt to summarize it here. We may point out, however, that a very important statement was made by the Attorney-General in the course of the cross- examination to which he was subjected on Wednesday. Asked by Mr. Wild whether he had privately told any member of the Parliamentary Committee of the Marconi deal before he was examined, he answered, "Yes. I told Mr. Falconer, who I knew was going to examine journalists." Mr. Handel Booth was also told. It may be remembered that when a similar question was asked of Sir Rufus Isaacs when he was before the Parliamentary Committee, the majority of the Committee refused to allow him to answer the question.