HC Deb 05 May 1885 vol 297 cc1629-30
MR. MORGAN LLOYD

asked the Lord Advocate, If his attention has been called to statements contained in The Dundee Advertiser and other Scottish newspapers concerning the alleged removal of coffin plates from the vault of the Eraser family in the parish kirkyard of Kirkhill, under the authority of Lord Lovat or his factor; whether, in view of the litigation now pending between Lord Lovat and a claimant to the Lovat peerage, and the fact that such coffin plates might be evidence of the pedigree of the claimant, such a proceeding is lawful; and, whether, having regard to the excitement caused by such proceedings in the North of Scotland, he will cause inquiries to be made as to the truth of such statements? The hon. Member added a further Question, as to whether the Lord Advocate was aware that Lord Lovat had taken this inopportune period to call a meeting of heritors, for the purpose of levelling the Kirkhill kirkyard in certain parts, and thereby disturbing graves and gravestones; and, whether he would take steps to induce Lord Lovat not to proceed further in the matter during the litigation now pending?

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

My attention has been called to these statements, and I have caused inquiry to be made in regard to them. Briefly stated, the following appear to be the facts:—In the month of September last, Sir William Eraser, of Leadclune, asked Lord Lovat's permission to visit the vault in Kirkhill Churchyard, where a number of members of the Lovat family, including a grandaunt of Sir William Fraser, are buried. Lord Lovat granted the permission sought, and the fact that the permission had been granted was communicated to the minister of Kirkhill, who kept one of the keys of the vault, the other key, which was kept at the estate office, being at the same time forwarded to the minister. On 25th September, Sir William Fraser, accompanied by a gentleman, understood to be his secretary, met the minister by appointment at the churchyard, and, along with a blacksmith and a mason, went into the vault and examined the coffins. Sir William stated to the party that his chief desire was to ascertain whether Lord Simon, of the '45, was buried in the vault. In the course of examining the coffins, it was found that the plates on seven were lying loose upon the lids, the nails having become decayed, and the inscriptions on the plates were illegible, being covered with rust. I am informed that Sir William Fraser states that he did not direct the plates to be removed, but the persons in attendance understood that he did so direct, and it is certain that the plates were carried to the manse by the blacksmith-and mason, and the minister, at Sir William's request, undertook to get them cleaned by a well-known jeweller in Inverness. A few days afterwards the minister took the plates to the jeweller, by whom they were cleaned, and also varnished to keep off the rust in future. They were afterwards returned by the jeweller to the minister, who, at the request of Sir William, had them fastened upon the coffins from which they had been respectively taken. Neither Lord Lovat nor anyone in his employment gave any authority for the plates or anything else in the vault being interfered with, nor had he or they any idea that any such thing was contemplated; and if Lord Lovat had been asked for permission to interfere with the plates, he would not have granted it. Lord Lovat only learned accidentally what had been done a considerable time afterwards. I have no information in regard to the last Question of the hon. Member, but I shall inquire into it.