§ Mr. H. J. WILSON (York, W.R., Holmfirth)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been directed to a report of The Wellington Journal of 10th June, from which it appears that on the previous Monday Mr. Clarke, the Coroner at Shrewsbury, refused to allow Mr. Overy, who was summoned as a juryman, to make an affirmation, though he stated he was "forbidden by the New Testament to swear," stating that the juryman would sit in the room until the 1181 jury is dismissed, and that he would be put on every time; and whether Mr. Clarke was acting within his duty?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. ASQUITH,) Fife, E.I have made inquiry, and the Coroner does not appear to have been aware of, or at any rate to have observed, the requirements of the Oaths Act, 1888 (51 & 52 Vict., c. 46), and to have supposed that the juror was only making an excuse to avoid service; but his attention will be called to the Act, and he will be cautioned as to a due compliance therewith in future.