NEXT MONTH'S BIG TRIAL AT THE OLD BAILEY

Wanganui Chronicle, 29 April 1949, Page 5

NEXT MONTH'S BIG TRIAL AT THE OLD BAILEY

Sir David Maxwell Fyfe And Sir Hartley * Shawcross As Counsel

LONDON, April 27. Sir David Maxwell Fyfe, K.C., Conservative M.P. for the West Derby Division of Liverpool, has been retained as leading counsel to defend John George Haigh, who will appear at the Old Bailey next month accused of the murder of Mrs. Durand-Dcacon. One of tlie best known lawyers in the world, Sir David conducted the deadly cross-examination of Goering Ribbentrop, and other Nazi leaders at the famous Nuremberg trial. He was Solicitor-General from 1942 to 1945, and became Attorney-General in Hie "Caretaker" Government. Appearing for the Crown in the Haigli trial will be Sir Hartley Shawcross, the present Attorney-General, who succeeded Sir David when the Labour Government was returned in 1945. Sir Hartley will be assisted by Mr. Gerald Howard, one of tlie Treasury counsel at the Central Criminal Court, and Recorder of Ipswich. Sir David will lead Mr. G. R. F. Morris, who has hitherto had the conduct of the defence. TOOK SILK AT 34 Both Sir Hartley Shawcross and Sir David Maxwell Fyfe began their careers in Liverpool, and each had a remarkable ris e to fame. Sir David took silk at the uncommonly early age of 34 (two years earlier than tlie great F. E. Smith), was an M.P. at 35, Solicitor-General at 41, and At-torney-General and Privy Councillor at 44. He is still under 50. Before the war his earnings at tlie Bar were put. at something like £15,000 a year, and for th e Nuremberg trial he was paid over £22,000.

Sir David is of sturdy build, and his strong face is remembered for the dark eyebrows and penetrating eyes. He was once described as “dark, silent, earnest, and wrapped up in his work.’’ As a cross-examiner he is relentless, and both Goering and Ribbentrop were devastated by his searching attack. His father came from Aberdeenshire and his mother was also from the Highlands, and young David Maxwell Fyfe was at school in Edinburgh before going on to Oxford. When arrived in Liverpool in 1922 he was unknown. Loss titan 12 years later he was both K.C. and M.P., and his knighthood followed in 1942. served lx two wars Sir David served in both wars, a .d while on duty as a staff major (hiring the blitz of 1940 was severely injured in a collision, hut made a remarkable recovery. He married Sylvia Harrison, a sister of Rex II: rrison, the film star. Recently he has combined a str« auous political life with his practic .it the Bar. He frequently speak:; ’ -m the front Opposition bench, ant', i d the Conservative onslaught on the Transport Bill. Jif st now he is Pposing, before the Privy Council, tne Australian government’s proposal to nationalise the banks. The date of Haigh’s trial has r.ot yet been definitely fixed. It will probably take place towards tlie end May.