§ MR. E. CRAUFURDwished to ask the Lord Advocate, Why he has not yet brought to trial the persons accused of the abduction of Robert Agnew, who states that he was taken from Newtown Stewart, drugged and detained at Glentrool during the polling day at the last Wigtonshire election; and when and where the trial will take place?
THE LORD ADVOCATEreplied, that the case mentioned by the hon. Gentleman was referred to the Crown authorities in August last, at which time it did not appear to him that there was sufficient evidence to justify him in ordering the case to be tried, and accordingly it was not sent for trial. Very recently, however—within the last six weeks or two months—some 475 additional evidence had been reported to him, and he thought it justified him in sending the case for trial. It would accordingly be tried on the 2nd of July next.