§ MR. M. DAVITTI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether his attention has been called to a statement contained in the Gold Coast Methodist Times, of the 15th ultimo, to the effect that Osai Bonsu (Mensa) ex-King of Ashanti, who was deposed by the British Government in 1885, has recently died of starvation while undergoing some punishment for an alleged refusal to reveal the whereabouts of the "Golden Stool;" and, whether the facts are as stated; and, if so, by whose authority this punishment has been inflicted?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.Osai Mensa, the ex-King of Ashanti, was not undergoing any punishment at the time of his death, but after the departure of the troops from Kumassi he was sent down to Prahsu and required to remain there. He had two women and two children with him, and was in fairly good health until April 14. He was then seized with diarrhœa, which turned to dysentery, and he died on the 21st. He was attended by two native doctors, and his wife testified at the inquest that nothing more could have been done for him if he had been at his own home.