§ MR. PICTON (Leicester)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Secretary of State has been informed of the circumstances under which, in the month of January last, in the Royal Niger Company's district, a boy, Ewoko by name, belonging to King Ebufa, was killed on board the Sakoto, one of the Company's steamers; whether the boy was killed by the captain of the steamer; whether the captain was tried for the offence, and sentenced to three months' imprisonment and a fine of £25; what were the circumstances which justified so light a sentence for illegally taking the life of a native; and, whether the captain, since his release, has again entered the employment of the Company?
§ * THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir J. FERGUSSON,) Manchester, N.E.It has been ascertained that a man on board the Sakoto died some hours after he had been struck by a stick thrown at him by the captain. The case was tried before Chief Justice Kane, and the trial seems to have been full and impartial. The Judge delivered a long and careful judgment, finding the accused man guilty of an unlawful and violent act, which unfortunately resulted in death. For this he adjudged him to suffer the punishment mentioned in the question. We do not know if the captain has been re-employed.
§ MR. PICTONWas the captain found guilty of manslaughter?
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONYes, Sir. The Report only reached the Foreign Office to-day. It is very long, but I observe that the learned Judge carefully defined the various degrees of manslaughter. The accused was found guilty of having committed a violent act, which by misadventure resulted fatally. I believe that the trial was carefully and impartially conducted.