§ MR. W. H. SMITHasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he will state what steps have been taken to 1550 punish the murderers of Professor Palmer, Captain Gill, R.E., and Lieutenant Charrington, R.N.?
MR. GLADSTONEIt would be, Sir, perhaps, premature if I were to attempt to answer literally the Question of the right hon. Gentleman as to what steps have been taken to punish these murderers. Of course, our first duty is to lay hold upon them, and upon all of them, if we can. I do not think that there will be any great difficulty connected with deciding the ulterior question; hut I may read a telegram containing the latest information in the possession of the Government. A telegram was received yesterday from Colonel Warren, who has been engaged in investigating the circumstances of the murder; and it is only right to say that he has performed that task, as far as we are enabled at present to judge, with great ability and judgment, as well as energy. His language before was, that he hoped to secure "some" of them; and his statement now is, that he is "very hopeful of securing most of the principal culprits."
§ MR. W. H. SMITHsaid he would repeat his Question on another day, when possibly the Government would be in a position to give some more definite information.