§ MR. CARSONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. Francis Hitchcock, a distinguished graduate and ex-scholar of the University of Dublin, who was arrested by Sergeant Dempsey, 4th Royal Dublin Fusiliers, on Friday last, on the ground of being a deserter from the Army; upon what grounds and by what authority Sergeant Dempsey arrested Mr. Hitchcock; whether Mr. Hitchcock was discharged by a magistrate on the grounds that there was no evidence to support the charge; whether an inquiry will be held into the conduct of Sergeant Dempsey in effecting this arrest; and whether any compensation can and will be awarded to Mr. Hitchcock?
§ MR. STUART-WORTLEY (Sheffield, Hallam)On the same subject may I ask the hon. Gentleman whether his attention has been called to the Report, appealing in The Times of 21st March, of a prosecution of an alleged deserter, before the Chief Police Magistrate of the City of Dublin, dismissed on the ground of a complete mistake as to the identity of the person charged; and whether for the purpose of preventing such mistakes in future he will consider the desirability of recording the identity of recruits by means of the system of mensuration known and practised in France as anthropometry?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe facts stated appear to be correct. The regrettable incident is attributable apparently to mistaken zeal on the part of the sergeant in question, as to whose conduct an inquiry will be held under the Order of the Commander of the Forces in Ireland. I am not aware that there is any means of compensation in such a case. As to the suggestion of the hon. Member for Sheffield, I do not think that the system of measurements which may be useful in the case of criminals is at all applicable to soldiers.
§ MR. CARSONMay I ask whether, before the arrest in a case of this kind, the sergeant acts upon a warrant and sworn statement?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI am not aware, Sir. Perhaps the hon. and learned Member will be good enough to give notice of the question.
§ MR. CARSONWhat is the authority on which a sergeant arrests a civilian?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI am not able to answer the question. I do not know whether a general authority is sufficient or whether he requires a special authority. If the hon. and learned Member will put the question on the Paper I will answer it.
§ MR. CARSONThen I ask the right hon. Gentleman to explain what he means by a "general" authority?
§ [The question was not answered.]