§ DR. CAMERON (Glasgow, College)asked the Lord Advocate, If he will inform the House of the amount of expense incurred in bringing to Edinburgh for trial the four Lewis crofters declared not guilty of the charges against them in the Court of Justiciary on Monday last; whether any assistance was given by the Crown to enable the prisoners to bring up witnesses for the defence; and, what sum has been paid them to defray the cost of their journey home?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. H. A. MACDONALD) (Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities)The expenses of the four Lewis crofters referred to 702 were allowed coming to Edinburgh and returning home, and the expenses of the witnesses for the defence were also allowed. If the hon. Member wishes to know the amount, I will tell him privately; but it is not desirable to state it publicly.
§ DR. CAMERONasked a further Question with respect to the truth of a newspaper paragraph to the effect that one of the Crown witnesses, who had been brought to Edinburgh, had gone out of his mind in consequence of having been plied with drink by the person in charge of him?
§ MR. J. H. A. MACDONALDI have no information upon the matter, except what I saw in a paragraph in the newspapers; but I will inquire.