Smith was the chief prosecution witness. Before the trial, the "News of the World" newspaper offered £1,000 to Smith for the rights to his story; the American "People" magazine made a competing offer of £6,000 (equivalent to about £ and £ respectively in ). When Smith accepted the "News of the World" offer—its editors had promised additional future payments for syndication and serialization—he agreed to be paid £15 weekly until the trial, and £1,000 in a lump sum if Brady and Hindley were convicted. During the trial, the judge and defence barristers repeatedly questioned Smith and his wife about the nature of the arrangement. At first, Smith refused to name the newspaper, risking contempt of court; when he eventually identified the "News of the World", Jones, as Attorney General, immediately promised an investigation. However, comparing Smith's testimony with his initial statements to police, Atkinson—though describing the paper's actions as "gross interference with the course of justice"—concluded it was not "substantially affected" by the financial incentive. Jones decided not to charge the "News of the World" on similar grounds.