MARCONI CONTRACT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1762, 29 May 1913, Page 5

MARCONI CONTRACT.

EDITOR SUED FOR LIBEL.

POSTMASTER GENERAL'S EVIDENCE.

.By Teleeranh— Prejs Association—OopyrieM (Rec. May 28, 9.15 p.m.) London, May 28. | Tlio trial of Mr. Cecil Clio6tcrton, editor of tlio "Eyo Witness," has begun at BowStreet Police Court. Mr. Chesterton has been 'summoned for libelling Mr. Godfrey Isaacs, whom ho accused of corruptly conspiring in regard to tho Marconi wirtless contract with tho Attorney-Geaieiu! (Sir Uufus Isaacs) and the PostmasterGeneral (Mr. Herbert Samuel). The threo wero describod as malefactors. Mr. Herbert Samuel gave evidence that tho Imperial wireless negotiations had not originated with him, and he had not held n communication with Sir RuPus Isaacs from first to last of the transaction.

Continuing his testimony Mr. Samuel said that the statement of the newspaper "Eye! Witness" that lie and Sir Kufus Isaacs's secretary had arranged that the public should pay a large sum to tho Marconi Company wa9 a wicked and childish falsehood. It wes inconceivable, even if tho Minister was wrong-headed and dishonest enough to desire to enter into such a contract, inasmuch as six Government Departments had to examine and approve its terms.

rMr. Godfrey Isaacs is tho president of the Marconi Wireless Telegraphy Company and is a brother of tho Attorney-General, Sir Kufus Isaac;. The latter denied in Parliament that he had any knowledge that an agreement was contemplated, until ho was told of it by his brother. "I have never bsen consulted about this con-

tract, and I havo had no more to do with it than any member opposite." He declared that there was not a vestige of foundation for the charges that had been made. The Postmaster-General, on behalf of every member of tho Government, endorsed what the Attorney-General had said. Mr. Chesterton's article declared that Mr. Herbert Samuel and tho two Isaacs were engaged in a swindle, and were guilty of theft, knavery, and villainy, and also attacked the relatives of both parties. A second article said that when Mr. Samuel was caught with his hand in the till, Marconi shares slumped. It also accused Mr. Samuel, and his cousins with pulling tho wires over Indian silver purchases.!

ANOTHER ACTION. CONCERNING THE SHAKES. (Rec. May 28, 9.50 p.m.) London, May 28. Mr. G. Locker-Lampson, M.P. for Salisbury, and Mr. Peter "Wright, eharelmlders in the English Marconi Company, have issued a writ against Messrs Godfrey and Harry Isaacs, Mr. Heybourne, Mr. Marconi, and others, directors of the company, to recover the difference between the sale price and tho par vahio of the shares.

English shares, amounting in value to .£500,000, and American Marconi uhares, worth about a million sterling, are involved.