It seems probable that Armstrong will appeal, and no doubt
the case before the Court of Criminal Appeal would turn upon the admissibility of evidence_in the trial before Mr. Justice Darling about Armstrong's alleged attempt to murder his fellow-solicitor, Mr. Martin. If the Court of Appeal should decide that this evidence was not admissible the prisoner would be discharged, but would apparently then have to he tried on the charge of the attempted murder of Mr. Martin. The Coma of Criminal Appeal cannot order a fresh trial. The London correspondent of the Manchester Guardian in Thursday's paper says that he understands it would be possible for the Court of Appeal to hold that, even if the Martin evidence was wrongly admitted the course of the trial was not essentially affected. He points out that if the appeal were to fail it would still be possible for Armstrong to appeal to the House of Lords, but only if the Attorney-General granted a certificate stating that the point of law involved was of sufficient importance. In the Casement case the Attorney-General refused a certificate. In the case of Beard in 1920 a certificate was granted.
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