Acting as his own counsel, he was unable to testify in his own defense. After he was convicted by the jury Mortimer was able to produce evidence to the judges that he had no personal knowledge of the libelous article, but it was too late.
As his own lawyer, Mortimer was precluded from providing testimony on his own behalf. Nevertheless, after being found guilty by the jury, he submitted evidence to the judges demonstrating that he had no personal connection to the libelous piece, but this was too late.