§ MR. PICTON (Leicester)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Depart- 673 ment, Whether his attention has been called to the conduct of the Mayor of Taunton in insisting on his right to preside in the police court over a case in which he was an important witness; whether he has seen the following official note made by the magistrates' clerk:—
Mattock against Burch. Assault. Mr. Crawshaw, for the complainant, objects to the Mayor sitting on this charge, on the ground that he has been summoned as a witness for the complainant, and also on the ground that he has, as a friend of the defendant, been endeavouring to settle the case out of court;whether he is aware that the summons was adjourned in consequence of the protest of Mr. Crawshaw; and, if the facts are as stated, what remedy is open to the party aggrieved?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)The facts are, I am informed, as stated in the Question. It appears to me that it would be extremely wrong of the Mayor to act as justice if, from any cause, he had a real bias in favour of either party; and if such a bias existed I presume it might be the ground of an application to set aside his decision. This is, however, a difficult question of law on which I cannot give any opinion.