§ MR. JOHN BAIRD (Glasgow, Central)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to the case of John Anderson, boarding house keeper, Broomielaw, Glasgow, who was tried at Greenock on 16th December last for supplying to the British ship King's County six seamen, five of whom were his own boarders; whether Anderson pleaded in defence that he was told two years before by Mr. Ross, Superintendent of Mercantile Marine at Glasgow, that if he only supplied men who were his own boarders, and charged no fee, he would not be interfered with, which statement was corroborated by Mr. Ross; whether with regard to the remaining seamen, it was proved that his own boarding house keeper had taken him down to Greenock; whether Anderson 1284 was convicted and fined £2 for each man; and whether, under the circumstances, he will advise that the fine be remitted?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATEI have made inquiry into this case. All the statements made in my hon. Friend's Question were made before and examined by the Sheriff, who convicted, but imposed a modified penalty. I see no reason to set aside his decision.