LORD DE CLIFFORD

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 140, 10 December 1935, Page 7

LORD DE CLIFFORD

PROCEDURE AT TRIAL

The House of Lords recently, on the. motion of the Lord Chancellor, approved the report of the Select Committee appointed, to inspect the journals of the House upon former trials of Peers in criminal.cases and to consider "the proper methods of. procedure in order to bring the Lord de Clifford to a speedy trial," says the ■ "Daily Telegraph." < . • -..-...■

Lord de Clifford was committed for trial at the Old Bailey on charges of manslaughter and dangerous driving arising out of a motor collision. The Recorder reported the case to the Lord Chancellor as a major charge against a Peer of "the. realm.

The committee was of opinion that the trial should take place in the Royal Galiery and that a decision as to the date should be deferred until the assembly of the new Parliament.

The Judges are to be summoned to attend and the Lord Chancellor is to write a letter to every lord to acquaint him with the date of the trial and to Bsk him whether he intends to be present and to take part. On the day appointed the lords will meet in the House of Lords in their robes at eleven of the clock in the forenoon. Every day during the trial the names of the lords present will be set down by the Clerk of the House and they are to keep their places in the court during the trial.

In case the lord indicted should plead guilty to his indictment, the lord will immediately withdraw to the House of Lords. If any doubt arises during the trial there is to be no debate until the lords have withdrawn. Every lord when he gives his judgment is to declare his opinion upon his honour, laying his right hand upon his breast. . -

A proclamation is to be made in th° court during the trial in the King's name. None is to be covered at the trial but the lords. The Sergeant-at-' Arms will be within the House to make proclamations, which are to be made in the King's name, for keeping silence. Lord de Clifford is to be seated within the bar uncovered and without his robes.

Forty seats will be reserved for such Peers of Scotland and Ireland as do not sit in the House, minor Peers, and the eldest sons of Peers, and eighty seats for Peeresses. Two hundred tickets will be issued for places below the' bar. If applications exceed the tickets available the tickets will be allotted by ballot. One hundred tickets will be set apart for members of the House of Commons.

School milk was being supplied to .tebout 2,500,000 children at the begin-jping-pi this year in .England, ___ >