§ MR. WEBB (Waterford)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for 524 India whether inquiry has yet been made into a case referred to in India for August, wherein it was stated that a Private, John Rigby, had kicked a punkah coolie to death, and been let off with a fine of Rs.100; and whether he is aware that, as stated in the same paper, a Judge, in trying a white man for outraging a Rajput woman, admitted charging the jury with a strong bias in favour of the accused?
* THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. GEORGE RUS-SELL,) North Beds.The Secretary of State has received information that the punkah coolie having fallen asleep at his post, Private Rigby jumped out of bed and gave him one or more blows on the body. The medical evidence showed that the cause of death was rupture of the spleen, which was in such a state that the slightest blow might have broken it, and there were no external marks of violence. In these circumstances, the Magistrate convicted Private Rigby of voluntarily causing hurt and sentenced him to pay a fine of Rs.100, or, in default, to three weeks' rigorous imprisonment. The fine was paid, and awarded as compensation to the relatives of the deceased. With regard to the second question, I must refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on the 14th August last—namely, that the Secretary of State is informed that there is no ground on which the decision of the Court can be questioned.
MR. G. RUSSELLNo doubt the Judge summed up in favour of the accused, but he does not admit that he showed any bias.