BRITISH JUSTICE

Hokitika Guardian, 23 October 1931, Page 7

BRITISH JUSTICE

STRICT IMPARTIALITY. RICH AND POOR ALIKE. LONDON, July 31. The triai' and condemnation of Lord Kylsant, who was yesterday found guilty and sentenced to a year in the second division, is the justification of our system that absolutely staggers foreigners, particularly Americans. Lord Kylsant was a romantic figure'. To begin witfi he was sixty-eight, and s:x foot seven inches 'in height, the tallest peer in England. He had risen to the head of the greatest combination ol shipping the world has ever known, embracing fifteen shipping companies, apart from coastal lines. Lord Kylsant was charged with having misrepresented the company’s position in a prospectus, by a manipulation of secret reserves. Apparently it is not always wise to tefl the shareholders, and incidentally your rivals, the exact position of your trading accounts. Accountancy is not an exact science, and certain latitude is permitted. But there are limits.

In this trial the three principal counsel were men who had been AttorneyGenerals, Sir Patrick Hastings, Sir John Simon and Sir William Jowitt. Only a few weeks have elapsed since Lord Kylsant was charged. There was no undue delay, Mr Mori and, the accountant, an elderly Quakoiy who was also charged, was acquitted, Lord Kylsant was the son of a clergy* man, Canon Sir Erasmus Phillips, who was a descendant of the Phillips of Picton Castle, the rulers of Pembroke for centuries. His three brothers arc also very tall, and have had ' distinguished careers. Viscount St. Davids is prominent in financial circles and a director of thirty companies. Sir Lawrence Phillips is a director of shipping companies and Major-General Sir Ivor Phillips has had a brilliant military career, hut is now head of 11 great commercial <onccrns, Lord Kylsant married nearly thirty years ago and has three daughters. When lie was first arrested, bail was allowed. Every day a large limousine waited in a corner of the yard at Old Hailey, and every day, at the mnciusion of, the trial, the tall, white-haired and dignified old man was driven home. Yesterday the car waited. His wife and family, were at home—waiting. They could not believe that he would he found guilty. Last night the big car drove away empty.

Lord Kylsant stood in the dock—-a dock almost too small far him. At 7 a.m. a crowd was queueing up to listen to the final stages of the trial, and the first to arrive were three women. The judge took* four hours to sum up. The jury retired .it 3.30. Twice, the two prisoners were brought into the .dock, but it was mereiy to have some special point elucidated by the judge. Back again they went to their deliberations. Once more the two old men—men who until this moment had held unblemished records-—went back to their waiting room, -Mr Holland was acquitted, Dazed, he left the prisoner’s box. Lord Kylsant was acquitted on two charges. A sight of relief went round the court. But on the third he was found guilty and sentenced to one year, A warder touched him on the’shoulder, He stood erect, unflinching. There was not a quiver of emotion when he heard the words that must have seared his soul. It was a tragic, a pathetic moment, ■One of the great names of England has been entered on the record of criminals. An elderly and honoured peer was shut off frpm his class and kind. He was hurried away to Wormwood Scrubs prison, Lawyers may appeal; the case may be retried; hut nothing can wipe out that moment. The eyes of the world were watching—watching British justice among the privileged class. The financial and commercial integrity of Britain was at stake. Everywhere there is pity—pity for the man, but admiration for the impartiality of the justice that must safeguard the good name and honour of the city. You can buy many things, but rot immunity from justice. America has much to envy us.