Letter: Editor was jailed

Sir: The coverage by the press of the trial of the Taylor sisters ('Police and press blamed as jailed sisters are freed', 12 June) reminds me of a contempt of court case 40 to 50 years ago, when Lord Goddard imprisoned the editor of the Daily Mirror for a prejudical comment about the mass murderer Neville Heath, printed during the course of his trial.

The editor received a three- month jail sentence, although he was not in the office when that particular edition was being produced. The principle was then still in force that those who accepted ultimate authority - whether cabinet ministers or newspaper editors - must accept ultimate responsibility.

Yours faithfully,

M. A. WINTERTON

Petts Wood,

Kent

12 June