§ MR. J. G. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate (1) if his attention has been called to the arrest and detention for a week in Dundee Prison of a young man, a native of Ullapool, Ross-shire, on suspicion of murder. (2) Can he state why the authorities took him on foot through the town of Markinch, Fife-shire, to the railway station, at an hour when many persons were about the street, seeing that there are covered flys for hire at Markinch. (3) Will he state why this young man was detained for a week seeing that he could establish an alibi. (4) Is he aware that the detention need not have exceeded a few hours if the police authorities had exerted themselves more. And (5) will he also state why on release railway fare was not paid to the young man's place of residence, but only half-way—viz., from Dundee to Cupar, and whether any amends will be made to him?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Sir CHARLES PEARSON,) Edinburgh and St. Andrew's UniversitiesMy attention has been called to the arrest referred to. I am informed that the authorities did 694 all in their power to shield Macrae from observation. He was taken through Markinch on foot, at about six in the morning, to a private room in an hotel near the station. This was thought less likely to attract attention than if the somewhat unusual course of ordering a fly had been resorted to. As to the defence of alibi stated lay his solicitor, no time was lost in testing its accuracy. When this was satisfactorily established he was liberated after a detention of five days. The fifth paragraph is altogether inaccurate. In accordance with the usual Prison Regulations Macrae received railway fare to take him to Cupar, from which place he had been sent to Dundee. On his arrival at Cupar he saw the Procurator Fiscal, who expressed regret on behalf of the authorities that he had been inconvenienced. He also gave him more than a sufficient sum to pay his railway fare to Markinch, the nearest station to his home. I cannot undertake to do more for him. The hon. Member must be aware that in the investigation of crime it is often necessary to arrest and detain persons on suspicion, who afterwards prove to be innocent.
§ MR. WEIRasked if the Lord Advocate was aware that the police authorities kept the man in prison until they had captured another man, who was also innocent?
§ [No reply was given.]