§ MR. W. WHITELAW (Perth)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to a case 1351 recently tried in Forfar Police Court, in which the prisoner pleaded guilty to a charge of breach of the peace and rioting, in spite of which, however, the presiding Magistrate first found the charge not proven, then admonished the prisoner, and then discharged him; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into all the circumstances of the case?
§ MR. J. B. BALFOURTwo men were brought before a Magistrate charged with breach of the peace. One of them, on being asked to plead, at first explained that as he had been the worse for liquor, he had little or no recollection of what had taken place, but he afterwards pleaded guilty. The other pleaded not guilty. After evidence had been led, the Magistrate said he would find the charge not proven, but would dismiss the men with an admonition. Upon its being pointed out that this would be irregular, the Magistrate ultimately found the charge not proven against the man who had pleaded not guilty, and dismissed the man who had pleaded guilty with an admonition. No further inquiry appears to be necessary.