HC Deb 07 December 1893 vol 19 cc625-6
MR. D. CRAWFORD (Lanark, N.E.)

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether he has received a communication from the Society of Solicitors of Airdrie complaining of the conduct of the Sheriff Substitute, who, on the 25th of November, insulted the Dean of the Society when engaged in the performance of his professional duty, and ordered the bar officer to remove him from the Court; and what steps it is intended to take in the matter?

THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR, Clackmannan, &c.)

I have received the communication referred to in the question, and there can be no doubt that the conduct of the Sheriff Substitute — especially towards so old and highly respected a practitioner as Mr. Watt, the Dean of the Society,—was most reprehensible. It is proper to add that the Sheriff Substitute, on a subsequent day, apologised for what he had done. At the same time, it is for consideration whether some steps should not be taken for protecting the agents practising in this Court from similar insult in future.

MR. HARRY SMITH (Falkirk, &c.)

asked whether it was consistent with the Lord Advocate's knowledge that Sheriff Mair, on the occasion in question, had imprudently attended the Court while suffering from an attack of influenza?

MR. J. B. BALFOUR

I understand that the Sheriff was recovering from that illness at the time.