§ MR. BRADLAUGHI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether the Secretary of State will lay upon the Table of the House the proceedings in the High Court of Calcutta, including the trial and the hearing on appeal, in the ease of a soldier named O'Hara, charged with the murder of a Bengali at Dum Dum; and whether he will consent to the Return relating to Murders in India, which stands on the Paper this day?
*SIR J. GORSTThe Secretary of State is not in possession of any proceedings in the case of O'Hara, which can be laid on the Table; and he is advised that, in criminal cases, proceedings of the kind suggested in the question do not exist. The Secretary of State cannot consent to the Return asked for; it is in some respects impossible, as, when a murder remains undetected, nobody can tell whether it was committed by an European or not. Information as to the number of murders reported to the police, and the number of persons convicted, is to be found in the Statis- 667 tical Abstract. The further information for which the hon. Member asks, could only be collected, if at all in India, at a cost which, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, would be indefensible.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether any communication has been made to the Secretary of State in reference to the trial and appeal in the case of the soldier charged with the murder of a Bengali?
*SIR J. GORSTI must have notice of that question. I can only say that no communication has been made that I am aware of; but if the hon. Member will give notice, I will inquire.
SIR G. CAMPBELL&c.) (Kirkcaldy,From the military aspect of the case, would the inquiry be undertaken by the Government of India, or by the Commander-in-Chief?
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!