22 MAY 1915, Page 3

It was announced on Thursday afternoon that Knepferle, whose trial

at the Old Bailey began on Tuesday, committed suicide in Brixton Prison on Wednesday evening. He was found banging behind his cell door, having made use of his scarf as a rope. The evidence given in open Court was of a kind which made his conviction certain. We are bound to say that it seems to us wholly unnecessary to try such cases with three Judges and a jury. If for any reason the summary procedure of a Court-Martial was not thought advisable, • single Judge could surely have done the work.