§ MR. EYKYNasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, that, taking into consideration the absence of a public prosecutor, If it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to undertake the prosecution of the person who laid claim to the Tichborne estates, and such other persons as may be proved to have been implicated therein? He was not aware last night when he gave Notice of his Question that the Attorney General, at the close of this remarkable case, had stated that the Government would prosecute the claimant for perjury. He hoped he should be forgiven if he asked the Government whether it was their intention to prosecute any other of the parties connected with the case?
MR. SCOURFIELDAllow me to put another Question. Is it not the fact that the person calling himself Sir Roger Charles Doughty Tichborne has been liberated on bail, and has left England?
THE ATTORNEY GENERALSir, My right hon. Friend the Secretary of 1530 State for the Home Department has desired me to answer the Question of the hon. Member. It is true that, at the conclusion of the trial yesterday, I did make a statement that the Government of the country were prepared to take up the matter and conduct against the claimant a public prosecution, and I may observe that, in any case of this kind, they prosecute almost as a matter of course. The question is not in the least degree affected by the existence or non-existence of such a functionary as a public prosecutor. There is no doubt the prosecution will be conducted—and conducted with the best ability the Government have at their disposal. My hon. Friend must excuse me from saying a word about conducting a prosecution against any other person than the claimant. Although it would be most unjust and improper to make any charges against persons for purposes foreign and collateral to the real inquiry, it must be in the knowledge of the House that the arrest of other persons than the claimant is a matter of the gravest possible consideration. It is undergoing careful and anxious consideration. I trust the House will think that sufficient, and not desire me to say any more about it. With regard to the Question of the hon. Gentleman (Mr. Scourfield) upon the subject of bail, I have no public or private information on that subject.