HC Deb 03 December 1888 vol 331 cc825-6
MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether Nuthoo Wilson, son of a British European subject, resident in Tehri, has been tried and convicted of three murders and of feloniously wounding five persons with intent to kill; whether Nuthoo Wilson has been sentenced to five years' imprisonment and £1,400 fine; whether this sentence on Nuthoo Wilson was submitted for confirmation to, and approved and confirmed by, the British Commissioner at Kumaon; whether Nuthoo Wilson is confined in Bareilly Gaol in a separate apartment, and is allowed to receive visitors, and to have special food, drink, and drugs; whether the Indian Penal Code applies to British European subjects in Tehri; whether, prior to the commission of the above-mentioned murders and wounding, several outrages by Nuthoo Wilson had, so far back as 1883–4, been reported in writing to Sir Henry Ramsay and to Sir Alfred Lyall; whether Nuthoo Wilson is very rich; and, whether the Government will lay upon the Table of the House the Papers relating to the gross miscarriage of justice in this case?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham)

The only Question I can answer with certainty is that the Indian Penal Code does apply to British European subjects in Native States. With regard to the other Questions, the Secretary of State is aware that complaints have been made against Nuthoo Wilson, who is, however, as the Secretary of State is informed, not a British European subject. The Secretary of State has no official information on the matter refer-red to in the Questions which has occurred in an independent Native State; but, if the hon Member has any evidence that a miscarriage of justice has taken place, and will lay the same before the Secretary of State, it will receive his careful attention.