§ MR. GRANTHAM (for Mr. MEREWETHER)asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether his attention has been called to the case of a grocer at Daventry, convicted for selling coffee adulterated with acorns to the extent of 50 per cent., upon the certificate of the analyst of an adjoining county; and whether, after notice of appeal given, the magistrates have received an admission from the analyst that there was no adulteration whatever; also to a similar case at Thrapston, in which the police withdrew from the prosecution, it being proved that, notwithstanding a certificate of the same analyst to the same effect, there was no percentage of adulteration at all; and, whether the costs of appeal in the first case, and £20 8s. the amount ordered to be paid to the defendant as costs in the second case, must be defrayed out of the county
§ MR. SCLATER-BOOTHSir, my attention has been called both to the Daventry and Thrapston case, and the facts are as stated in the Question of my hon. and learned Friend. In both cases the costs will fall on the county rate, assuming always that the officer conducting the prosecution was the proper officer for that purpose. In case of the appeal to the quarter sessions, however, it will be within the discretion of the Court to award costs or otherwise as they may think proper.