§ * SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he is now in possession of the facts of the case of Mr. C. J. M'Leod, Barrister-at-Law, who was, on the 4th May, committed to the Kingstown Prison, in the Island of St. Vincent, for 14 days, without the option of a fine, for contempt of court, by Mr. Geoffrey St. Aubyn, sitting as acting Chief Justice; (2) whether he can inform the House of what the alleged contempt of court consisted; and (3) whether, supposing the allegation itself to be true, the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown has been taken on the legality of the procedure and sentence?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.In answer to the first Question of the hon. Baronet, I have to say Yes. In answer to the second Question, I have to say that Mr. M 'Leod, who acts as agent in St. Vincent for a Grenada newspaper called the Federalist, published in St. Vincent, by delivering a copy to the librarian of the public library, a number of the papers containing a scandalous attack upon the administration of Justice in the latter colony; he was, on refusing to make an apology to the satisfaction of the Court, committed to prison for 14 days as a first-class misdemeanant; in answer to the third Question, I have to say that I have not thought it necessary to consult the Law Officers of the Crown on this subject.