§ MR. MASON (Lanark, Mid)asked the Lord Advocate, Whether any complaints have reached him that a policeman entered the house of Henry Banks, Blantyre, on the evening of the 20th instant, "stripped the bed clothes off his body, and spoke roughly to his wife;" and, whether complaints have not reached him of the police having recently exceeded their duty.
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. H. A. MACDONALD) () Edinburgh and St. Andrew's UniversitiesOn the night of the 20th, while the police were quelling a disturbance in Blantyre, a quantity of 449 filthy water was thrown upon the police from a house. They went into the house to endeavour to discover who had done this. The man Banks was in bed, with the bed clothes round his head. The police drew down the bed clothes from his head to see if he were asleep, and finding he was really asleep they loft the house. Banks was not awakened, and his wife states that there was no incivility or roughness on the part of the police. One complaint has reached mo —one of alleged excess by the police in doing their duty by striking a man on the head with a baton—but the doctor who examined the man's head within two days could find no trace of any injury. I may add that very violent usage is being given to the police in Blantyre, and serious injuries being inflicted on them; and that respectable citizens bear witness to the patience and forbearance they have shown, even whoa seriously assaulted. The senior constable is at present confined to bed, and will be so for a fortnight, from a severe scalp wound inflicted by a poker or crowbar. Just before leaving my Office for the House I received another complaint against the police, and have ordered inquiry to be made.