§ MR. BIGGARasked the Lord Advocate, Whether it is the case that, in November of last year, a charge was made to him against Mr. James Gardiner, S.S.C., who recently disappeared from Edinburgh, of embezzling, in conjunction with other parties, certain trust funds of Mr. Walter Sim and of the late James Macnee, coach-builder, Edinburgh; and, whether, considering the facts now come to light, he will cause the charge then made to be investigated?
THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR)No, Sir; it is not the case that any such charge was made by me against Mr. Gardiner. About the time indicated a charge of embezzlement was preferred against another person with respect to the estate of one of them, which was duly investigated; but Crown counsel considered that it was not sustained by the evidence. The allegation now made with respect to Mr. Gardiner's dealings with Scottish firms is being investigated.