§ MR. BIGGARasked the Secretary of State for India, Whether his attention has been called to the verbatim Reports of the trial of the Crown witnesses in the Salem case, contained in the Madras papers just received, and particularly to the full-length Reports of the Judge's sentences in The Hindu of the 14th, 16th, and 18th July; and, whether, as these Crown witnesses have been convicted of perjury, two having confessed that they were tortured so by the police that they had to give evidence for the Crown, he will order the release of the Salem prisoners now transported, and will direct that an inquiry be held into the behaviour of the magistracy and police in this case?
§ MR. J. K. CROSSI have seen the reports of the trials to which the hon. Member refers; but I have no information on the subject beyond what may be derived from the newspapers. As these cases are being fully inquired into by the Government of Madras, it does not appear to be necessary that the Secretary of State should issue any orders at the present time.