§ MR. FRASER-MACKINTOSH (Inverness-shire)asked the Lord Advocate, Whether his attention has been directed to an account of certain proceedings on the part of the police, supported by an armed force, for the purpose of arresting accused persons at an unusually early hour on the morning of Wednesday, 22nd February, as contained in The Scotsman newspaper on the following day, and headed "The Agitation in Lewis.—Another Raid on Bayble;" whether any of these lately accused persons in Lewis have failed to appear before the Sheriff, on being warned or cited so to do; whether in particular Murdo Mackenzie, in Lower Bayble, who is described as having been in bed for a week, suffering from chest complaint and ulcerated leg, but taken out of bed and threatened with compulsory removal to Stornoway, whilst protesting that he could not put his foot under him, had been so warned to appear; and, whether, as it would appear that the feelings of Mackenzie's relatives and neighbours were hurt by these proceedings, he will give instructions that in the discharge of their duties the police will be cautioned to use no avoidable harshness?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. H. A. MACDONALD) (Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities)The people of Point, in. which Bayble is situated, have been in a somewhat turbulent spirit for some time, A fortnight before the occurrence in question, two constables who were citing persons to come to Court on a criminal charge from this place were mobbed and stoned; and it was, therefore, not thought advisable to proceed by citation in other cases. Information was laid before the Sheriff, at the instance of the Public Prosecutor, against Murdo Mackenzie and others for a serious crime. When apprehended, he pleaded that he could not be removed in custody, as he was suffering from a 576 sore leg. A surgeon, having examined him, certified to the Sheriff Substitute that he could be moved without injury. The Sheriff Substitute, however, on his promising to appear at Stornoway on any day for which he might be cited, did not order his removal. The reverse of gratitude was shown for this consideration, for when two constables were sent some days after to cite the accused persons they were mobbed, and followed and stoned for a distance of about a mile from the township. In answer to the last paragraph, I have to say that in this case exceptional consideration was shown; that no harshness whatever was used; and that the considerate conduct of the Sheriff Substitute received no response except rudeness and insult.
§ MR. FRASER-MACKINTOSHasked, if it was not the case that Mackenzie voluntarily surrendered himself?
§ MR. J. H. A. MACDONALDsaid, it was a fact that Mackenzie had voluntarily surrendered himself on being cited; but it was also the fact that when the citation was sent to him the constables were assaulted.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)wished to know whether Mackenzie received legal or illegal consideration; whether he got more or less than the law allowed, or no more; and what gratitude he was expected to extend to the Law Officers?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order !