Miscellany

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29744, 10 February 1962, Page 3

Miscellany

Due Process. By Brad WilBarna. Goilancz. 338 pp. The subject of this biography is George T. Davis, a United States lawyer who never loses a case. (On one occasion he joins the jury to achieve his purpose—probably as effective a method of winning cases as most.) He is industrious, skilful and enterprising, and should an offender find himself in the

unfortunate position of facing a death penalty, then Mr Davis is his man. for such is his opposition to it that if need be be will conduct the defence without fee.

His clients have ranged from Alfred Krupp to Caryl Chessman, for all of whom he has done wonders, and one can only regret that his biographer could not do the same tor him. Perhaps it should be added that Mr Erie Stanley Gardiner says that this book never lets the reader down for a moment. He refrains from saying what effect it has on Mr Davis; but then from Mr Gardiner you can expect such subtlety. Nothing But The Truth. By Helen Spinola. Goilancz. 222 pp.

Helen Spinola's autobiography is a record of a long life devoted to meeting social and theatrical celebrities. It is written in a breathless style and is quite without distinction. A chance opening of the book at page 75 yields a characteristic passage. “That last paragraph came from the heart. I really must be serious occasionally. I’m sure you understand me by now and can separate the wheat from the chaff.” The only possible “wheat” in “Nothing But The Truth” is the fact that the writer was Alan Campbell's wife and consequently the daughter-in-law of the celebrated actress, Mrs Patrick Campbell. Helen Spinola makes the most of this outfacing experience. e

The Life and Death of Radclyffe Hall. By Una, Lady Troubridge. Hammond. 190 pp.

This book was written 16 years ago. not long after the death of the person principally concerned. Although Radclyffe Hall's novels are still in print in a collected edition, it seems unlikely that they will ever be widely read again. The standard histories of English literature tend to omit her name, in spite of the fact that “Adam’s Breed” has some outstanding qualities. Her “Well of Loneliness” will probably crop up from time to time as an event in the social history of the 'twenties. Lady Troubridge writes of the years she and Radclyffe Hall spent together from 1915 to 1943. The photographs which illustrate the book make the situation perfectly clear; for, as Lady Troubridge says, Radclyffe Hall was an invert. Nevertheless, she and Lady Troubridge lived happily together in England and Italy, engrossed in writing, reading aloud to one another, spoiling a long succession of dogs, and studying psychic research. It is, of course, a strange story; but few readers will fail to respect the deep devotion with which the author writes of her friend The World* of Chippy Patterson. By Arthur H. Lewis. Goilancz. 311 pp.

This is the life story of an unconventional American lawyer who worked in the slums of Philadephia over 40 years ago—“Chippy" Patterson who died while still in his early fifties, worn out fighting battles in the courts on behalf of gangsters, murderers. prostitutes, pimps, hired killers, alcoholics and down-and-outs. As an advocate he handled an enormous number of cases with astonishing brilliance and amazing success Between 1903 and 1933, for instance, he defended no fewer than 401 men and women charged with murder —of whom 171 were found not guilty. 222 were sent to prison for short terms only; and of them all only eight went to the electric chair He cared nothing for money, and served the lowest levels of society without thought of self or reward In turn, these people, whatever their failings and their crimes, came to trust and accept him. so that he could go anywhere in the underworld without fear—among trigger-happy gunmen or the vice-ridden haunts of Chinese opium dens This biography does indeed make fantastic reading Patterson himself was no angel and the account of his own escapades is just as telling as that of his innumerable sondly—juicy legal cases This piece of reporting does not pretend to be objective: the author admires Chippy Paterson too much to be impartial, and his breezy style does not compensate for longwindedness. Nevertheless the narrative as a whole is vigorous and forceful, and provides a portrait of a man of unusual character and ability The Theological Frontier of Ethics. By W. G. Mac lazen. Allen and Unwin 202 pp

This latest addition to the Muirhead library of philosophy is a major contribution to ethical thinking with attention focused on the concepts of moral duty and obligation Based on his Edward Cadbury lectures at Birmingham University five years ago. Professor Maclagan is principally concerned to establish the conviction that morality is quite independent of religion, apart from the sense in which religion is merely the fully moral attitude itself, and to establish the primacy of its authority over any other authority which may be claimed by religion.

Christian theologian* are likely to disagree with gome of the author's contentions, but the intensity of hi* convictions and the clarity which he has brought to the discussion of complex issues will ensure that the essay is received with respect and enthusiasm "The Theological Frontier of Ethics" requires considerable philosophical sophistication on the part of its readers and is designed for a specialist audience of philosophers and theologians.