MR. STAVELEY HILL (Staffordshire, Kingswinford)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether the result of the proceedings against Mr. Baird under the Foreign Enlistment Act, to which allusion was made, affected "his character or repute," or indicated him to be "a person to whom a Government contract or permit should not be granted?"
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)It does not seem to the Secretary of State that Mr. Baird's character is at all affected by the prosecution instituted against him for an offence against the Foreign Enlistment Act. Mr. Justice Smith, who tried the case, stated several times that there was no evidence at all against Mr. Baird, and directed the jury to find him not guilty.