§ MR. BALLANTINE (Coventry)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the observations of Mr. Justice Manisty and Mr. Justice Mathew in the Court of Queen's Bench on June 3rd, concerning the conduct of the captain of H.M.S. Duke of Wellington, in relation to the imprisonment of Thompson, the alleged deserter from H.M.S. Calliope; and, whether he is now prepared to order compensation to be awarded to Thompson?
§ MR. BRADLAUGHBefore the noble Lord answers may I ask whether I rightly understand that the Report of the Admiralty Vote will not be taken until after the decision of the High Court in this case?
§ LORD G. HAMILTONThe course I propose to take is to postpone the Courts Martial Vote. As to the question of the hon. Member for Coventry, I have seen the Report of the proceedings, but as the case is sub judice I am not prepared to make any statement with regard to it.
§ MR. BALLANTINEThe matter is only sub judice in the sense that the Parnell letters are sub judice. I wish to ask the noble Lord whether on the 3rd of June Mr. Justice Manisty did not say he thought the man had been illegally in custody, without any lawful cause whatever; that he had borne a long imprisonment and had a clear right to be discharged? I wish to know whether, after that expression of opinion, the noble Lord is now prepared to award compensation to the man?
§ LORD G. HAMILTONI shall be very glad when the opportunity arises of stating all the facts of the case, and when I do so I think the House will see that this is not a case in which this lad is entitled to compensation.