§ DR. CLARK(for Dr. R. MACDONALD) (Ross and Cromarty)asked the Lord Advocate, If his attention has been called to the case of Donald Macleod, a pauper and an imbecile of Balallan, in the Island of Lewis, who was found by his neighbours in bed in a pool of water six inches deep, partially paralyzed, was carried from his hovel to an empty school-house near, but died from the exposure next day; whether he is aware that this man's hovel was photographed and published in the newspapers last Christmas as a specimen of one of the worst huts in Lewis; whether he has yet received the Procurator Fiscal's Report on the case; and, if he has, what was the nature and conclusion of that Report; and, if the facts be as alleged, what steps he proposes to take to prevent the recurrence of such cases as the above?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. P. B. ROBERTSON) (Bute)I presume the hon. Member refers to the case of 827 Donald Macdonald, and not Macleod, as stated in the Question. Macdonald was 64 years of age, and was in receipt of parochial relief, and though peculiar in his habits he was not imbecile. He was seen going about a few days before his death. He was found on October 30 in his dwelling, lying in a few inches of water underneath his bed, which was raised from the ground. He was at once removed to the village school-house, where a fire was lighted, warm clothing was supplied by the neighbours, and medical assistance was obtained. The doctor found him suffering from cerebral hemorrhage; and this, and not the exposure, was the cause of his death, which took place next day. I am not aware if his dwelling was photographed; but a rude representation of it appeared in The Glasgow Weekly Mail. The Parochial Board, and also the relatives of the deceased, frequently offered to provide him with a better dwelling; but he flatly declined to move from the one in which he was found. The Procurator Fiscal reported the case to the Crown authorities, who directed that there should be no proceedings. I have read the Report, and concur in the decision of Crown Counsel. The death was from natural causes, and there seems no blame attachable to anyone.