HC Deb 19 May 1884 vol 288 cc661-2
MR. J. W. BARCLAY

asked the Lord Advocate, Whether his attention has been called to the alleged deforcement of a sheriff's officer in the Island of Lewis, arising, according to newspaper report, from an attempt by a sheriff's officer and certain estate officials to pull down a House of a superior description recently erected by a crofter, Murdo Graham, at his own expense; whether he will inquire into the circumstances; and, whether the Procurator Fiscal (the Public Prosecutor) is also Law agent for the proprietor of the estate?

THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR)

I have inquired into this matter, and I am informed that Murdo Graham holds his croft at a rent of four guineas, with which rent he is nearly three years in arrear. He has a wife and three grown-up sons living with him. Roderick Graham, one of these sons, having lately married, began, contrary to the regulations of the estate, the remonstrances of the estate officials, and the strongly expressed objections of his father, to build a House upon his father's croft with the avowed purpose of residing in it. His father complained to the Chamberlain, and a petition was presented in the Sheriff Court, at the instance of Lady Matheson, with concurrence of Murdo Graham, for interdict against Roderick Graham proceeding with the erection of the House, and for warrant to pull down what had been built. Although the petition was served on Roderick Graham, he did not appear. Interdict was obtained, and he was ordered to pull down the House within 10 days. He did not do so, and warrant was then granted to the estate officials to pull it down. They made two attempts to do so, but were driven off. On the 3rd of this month, Roderick Graham was convicted before the Sheriff-Substitute for breach of the peace on this occasion, and on the 15th Roderick's brother Donald and two other persons were also convicted of breach of the peace on the same occasion. Messrs. W. and J. Boss, solicitors, Stornoway, are, I understand, the local agents for Lady Matheson. One of them, Mr. William Ross, is the Procurator-Fiscal. The civil proceedings were conducted by his partner, Mr. John Ross.