My Life

My Life - Oswald Mosley'On the material before the jury, was it possible for them to say that the words in thefirst part of the "leaderette" were true? If, however, they were true, it was admittedthat the second paragraph of the "leaderette" constituted fair comment.'Dealing with the meaning of the alleged libel, his Lordship asked the jury whetherthere could be any doubt that the words imputed to Sir Oswald Mosley a criminaloffence.'They might think that Sir Patrick Hastings was right when he said that it was anundefended case and that the suggestion that a farthing damages should be awardedwas adding insult to injury. They must remember the terrible power of the modernprinting press by which any matter could be distributed a hundred-thousandfold.'The jury returned a verdict in favour of Sir Oswald Mosley, assessing the damages at£5,000.'Our fight against communism in the thirties got us into further trouble; to be precisetwo more lawsuits, as well as a special Act of Parliament. One lawsuit was a comedystaged in the salubrious spa of Worthing-on-Sea. We did not think it so funny whenwe stood in the dock faced with possible penalties of two years in jail if things wentwrong. With half a dozen companions I was charged with riotous assembly. We hadgone, all unwitting of coming events, to hold a meeting in a hall we had hired on theseafront, which was a large tin tabernacle of flimsy construction. During the peacefulmeeting with a packed and orderly audience the tin sides resounded with an orchestraof noise under the impact of sticks and stones. However, I was audible throughout themeeting, and at the end the audience left without molestation. The noise howeverredoubled when following my usual habit I addressed the blackshirts, who hadassembled from all over the neighbourhood and were supplemented by a few fromLondon who were experienced in the organisation of large meetings. I left the hallfirst, closely followed by the massed blackshirts. We were rushed, and I hit the firstassailant on the jaw; it was ungenerous of him afterwards to sue me for assault whenhe had waited for it all evening and notified his ardent desire on the tin sides of ourtabernacle.A free-for-all then ensued with no police visible. The Reds had arrived in coachesfrom far away, but after protracted debate left in some disorder. We too were thenpreparing to depart, when we were informed that our local H.Q., about half a mileaway, was being beleaguered with a number of women members inside. Thebesieging Reds were surprised to see us enter from each end of the street where thishouse was situated, and again they got the worst of it. When all was clear we wenthome without remonstrance, and with scant appearance from the local police force.We thought no more about it, and in the long interval which followed held many goodand orderly meetings in places where we would have expected far more trouble thanat Worthing. Then came summonses for riotous assembly, and after several days'hearing in the Magistrates' court in Worthing we were sent for trial to Lewes Assizes.The opposing counsel was Mr. John Flowers, K.C.; it was rumoured that lawyerssometimes marked briefs 'no flowers by request', but he was a fine old English type,well known and popular in the whole area for his long and distinguished membershipof the Sussex County cricket team. Pat Hastings again acted for us, and before myappearance in the witness-box whispered in my ear: 'If you score too freely off theSussex slow bowler this case is lost'. There were a few hilarious moments when, in296 of 424