REPORTS OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sra,—Sir Evelyn Cecil has a Bill for the proper restriction of reports in the " Press," relative to Divorce Court Proceedings. Long years ago, suffering under the unhappy effects of the pithy paragraphist, dealing with my evidence in a case of no public consequence, I advocated the control of all reporting of legal proceedings, which should either be verbatim or the
bare statement of fact. Unhappily, the Free Press would not discuss the matter, and I had a number of replies from that powerful element " we " bespeaking anything but liberty.
Now, Sir, surely, is the chance for these journalists to clean their own doorsteps by amendments to this useful proposal of Sir Evelyn Cecil. It is disgusting that one should be afraid to prosecute a thief because one fears the publicity of startling headlines and a hash up of private matters for the delectation of neighbours, the more so when one considers the difficulty of libel actions and the gigantic trust methods of modern journalism.
I would indemnify the brave publicist, but the scandalizing journalist is a social pest and parasite.—I am, Sir, &c., WILFRED PLATT.
[We think there will have to be some regulation, and we. should naturally desire this if it can be accomplished without sacrificing the essential advantages of publicity. The observ- ance of the Law is greatly aided by puhlicity.. Sir Charles Darling has often complained that some crimes are not even. known to be crimes because the trials are secret. Frankly, we believe more and more in the value of publicity. That is no reason, .however, why the public should be debauched by disgusting details which, though they are necessarily extracted in the course of evidence, are no part of a• sound. publicity. Perhaps the difficulty could be met by giving a
judge the power to say, " This portion of the evidence, though. it can be heard in open court, ought not to be reported and, as empowered under the Act, I shall regard any attempt to report it as contempt of court."—En. Spectator.]
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