§ SIR GEORGE BADEN-POWELLI beg to ask Mr. Attorney General, whether he is aware that, at a Naval Court held at Santos on 18th June 1894, the Court held that certain members of the crew of the Jessie Osborne were guilty of mutiny with violence, and all the accused were sent to England for trial; that when the accused arrived at Southampton they were brought before the magistrate, who dismissed the charge because there was no prosecution; and that no further action was taken to investigate the charges; what was the cause of this failure either to exonerate or condemn persons accused of a grave crime; and, whether he can state from what funds the expenses were paid of bringing the said members of the crew of the Jessie Osborne from Santos to England?
§ MR. ASQUITHThe facts are as stated by the hon. Member. I am of opinion that though the act of the defendants in putting the captain in irons was in itself subversive of discipline, it 43 was, to great extent, caused by the conduct of the captain to the first mate. Unfortunately, there were no means by which criminal proceedings could be instituted against the men, in order to establish the truth of their statements, by the decision of a magistrate in this country, as in the absence of the captain there was no one to give evidence for the prosecution. These expenses were paid by the Board of Trade under Section 689 (5) of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, and claimed by them from the Treasury.