§ MR. CONYBEAREI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will lay before Parliament the defaulter sheets of the men belonging to the 2nd battalion Grenadier Guards who have been sentenced by a Court Martial to prolonged terms of imprisonment with hard labour?
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOE WAR (Mr. E. STANHOPE,) Lincolnshire, HorncastleNo, Sir; I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by their production.
§ MR. CONYBEAREI did not ask whether any useful purpose would be served, but whether, for our information, the right hon. Gentleman would lay the defaulter sheets before us. I would ask him whether he is aware that the sentence of two years' imprisonment inflicted on one of the men is the same punishment as that which has been inflicted on a soldier named Lee for a violent assault on his superior officer?
§ * ME. E. STANHOPEI have no information on the subject referred to. I am perfectly clear it would not be advisable to lay the defaulter sheets before the House.
§ MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAM (Lanark, N.W.)I beg to ask whether the character of the men punished has not been exceedingly good hitherto?
§ * MR E. STANHOPEAny circumstances of that kind would, no doubt, be taken into consideration by the Court Martial.
§ MR. CTTNINGHAME GRAHAMI wish to ask the right hon Gentleman whether he, as Secretary for War, knows whether the characters of the men punished were good or bad up to this time?
§ MR. DILLONMay I ask whether the fact of a soldier having a good character and long service is considered as a ground for increasing the severity of his sentence?
§ * MR. E. STANHOPENo, Sir; certainly not.
§ MR. CONYBEAREMay I ask if we are to understand that conduct such as that which has been punished in this case is to be placed on a par with the much graver offence of violently assaulting a superior officer, which is visited with similar punishment?
§ * MR. E. STANHOPENo, Sir.