§ MR. SEXTONasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is true, as stated in The. Liverpool Mercury of the 6th ult., that more than half the jurors at the Anglesey Assizes did not understand English—
In consequence of which those that did were obliged to explain to the others, and expatiate on the evidence pro and con, in the vernacular;whether the juries had to retire into a cupboard to consider their verdicts, and, there being no gas in the cupboard, two farthing caudles were brought in and deposited on the floor; and, if these allegations are well founded, whether any assurance can be given that interpreters and suitable accommodation will be provided in future?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT, in reply, said, it was true that there were inconveniences in connection with the administration of justice in Wales, on account of the fact that some persons did not understand the English language; but in all those cases interpreters were employed. He was, however, informed that the state of things now was much better than it was in former days. In regard to the latter part of the Question, all that the hon. Member had said was well founded. The accommodation provided at Anglesey, and which had been provided ever since 1614, was not only insufficient, but positively shocking. He hoped that after the lapse of two and a-half centuries those responsible locally for these matters would, now that attention had been drawn to them, do something to improve the accommodation.