§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN (Stirling Burghs)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to the recent decision in the Justiciary Appeal Court, Edinburgh, as to entering horses for sale at an auction under false names of owners; whether he is aware that this is said to be a common practice in Scotland among dealers both as regards horses and cattle, especially the latter; and whether he will direct the attention of Procurators Fiscal to the matter with a view to the practice being repressed?
MR. GRAHAM MURRAYMy attention has been called to the case in question, which, although recent itself, proceeded on former precedents. I have been told that the practice is common, but I have no means of testing the accuracy of the statement. I see no 799 reason for any particular communication to Procurators Fiscal on the subject, because those who suffer from such practices have only to lodge an information in the ordinary way with the Procurator Fiscal, when it will be inquired into, and dealt with by Crown counsel in ordinary course.