§ SIR WILLIAM STIRLING-MAXWELLasked the Under Secretary of 787 State for Foreign Affairs, If he can give any information as to the state of the investigation into the murder of the late Mr. Hinde near Naples, and the steps taken on behalf of Her Majesty's Government to secure the conviction of the murderer?
§ MR. BOURKESir, I can assure my hon. Friend that the murder of Mr. Hinde near Naples in March last has from the first engaged the earnest attention and solicitude of Mr. Calvert, our Consul at Naples, and that of Sir Augustus Paget, at Rome; and Her Majesty's Government have every reason to believe that the Italian Government have acted with promptitude in doing their best to bring to justice the perpetrators of this very atrocious crime. Soon after the murder the gardener in Mr. Hinde's service was arrested, as well as his wife and two lads who worked in the garden. The evidence did not justify the detention of the woman or the lads, so they have been released. But a prosecution has been instituted against the gardener, who will be tried, it is expected, in a few days. We have been in communication with the Treasury upon the subject, and it has been arranged that any reasonable sum which may be required to secure the conviction of the guilty parties above what the family of Mr. Hinde have contributed shall be paid from the public funds.