§ MR. A. J. WILLIAMS (Glamorgan, S.)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is the fact that, in a case tried on the 3rd of March instant, in the County Court held at Cardiff, the defendant, Ann James, said that she was but imperfectly acquainted with the English language, and claimed to give her evidence in her own, the Welsh language; and, whether His Honour, Judge Owen, declined to allow her to do so, and peremptorily stopped her when she attempted to give her evidence in Welsh?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. CHILDERS) (Edinburgh, S.)It is a fact that Ann James, the defendant in the case referred to, told the Judge that she was imperfectly acquainted with the English language. As, however, in a previous case, tried before the same Judge, she had given evidence in English, the Judge asked her if she would again do so, whereupon she was sworn in English, and answered every question without hesitation, and in such a way as not only to satisfy the Judge, but, as I am informed, also her own solicitor.