HC Deb 20 March 1890 vol 342 cc1247-8
MR. KEAY (Elgin and Nairn)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to a telegram from Calcutta in the Daily News of the 17th inst, stating that The discharge of the prisoner in the Dumdum murder ease is causing much popular indignation, and is called a miscarriage of justice; whether the case alluded to is that of a British soldier named Thomas O'Hara, who was tried at the Criminal Sessions, of the High Court of Calcutta for the wilful murder of a native named Shaik Soleem, in the Cantonment of Dumdum, and who was sentenced to death on 21st February last; whether he is aware that the presiding Judge, the Hon. Mr. Justice Norris, in passing sentence, declared that "he entirely endorsed and accepted the verdict of the jury," and that the prisoner "had been guilty of about, as brutal a murder as ever was perpetrated;" and whether, if this is the case referred to in the Daily News telegram, he has any information which would explain the alleged discharge of the prisoner?

* THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir J. FERGUSSON,) Manchester, N.E.

On behalf of my right hon. Friend I have to say that the Secretary of State has seen the telegram in the Daily News referred to. The Secretary of State has no official information on the subject; but from the telegrams in the Times it seems that the case was brought before the High Court of Calcutta for revision in the ordinary way; that it was argued for four days before the Chief Justice and four other Judges; that the Court took time to consider their judgment, and subsequently held that there had been a misdirection of the jury and an improper admission of evidence; and that the conviction must be quashed and the prisoner discharged.

SIR W. PLOWDEN (Wolverhampton, W.)

Will the Secretary of State for India sand instructions to the Government of India to have this man put upon his trial again?

* SIR J. FERGUSSON

Well, Sir; I think that before that proceeding is considered it would be as well to be in possession of the Report.