§ MR. A. D. PROVAND (Glasgow, Blackfriars)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate (1) whether the Secretary for Scotland has now considered the petitions Intel before him on behalf of the two men who were convicted before a sheriff-substitute at Glasgow, on the 8th March last, and sentenced to 60 days' imprisonment for assault arising out of a trade dispute in connection with the works of William Collins and Sons, publishers; (2) whether he has taken into consideration the circumstances of the trade dispute which led to the assault, the conflict of evidence at the trial, the prisoner's previous excellent character, the nature of the punishment, and the fact that a chief witness against the two men was, a few days after the trial, himself charged at the Central Police Court with being riotous and disorderly; and (3) whether, in view of the many extenuating circumstances, he is prepared to recommend some mitigation of the sentence?
MR. GRAHAM MURRAYThe reply to the first two paragraphs of the hon. Member's Question is in the affirmative. While the statement in respect of one of the witnesses is, so far, accurate, but fails to point out that the charge was found not proven, I must point oat that the facts were clearly proved by several highly credible witnesses. The Secretary for Scotland, after full inquiry and 214 anxious consideration, has arrived at the decision that he cannot recommend any mitigation of the sentence imposed in regard to an offence of so very serious a nature.