§ MR. DUNCOMBEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received the official report of the trial of Stephanus Bart Jones, a policeman, who was indicted for culpable homicide, having on 18th December killed Thomas Jackson Edgar by firing a revolver at him, whereby he sustained injuries of which he subsequently died; whether he has yet received official confirmation of the account that the jury disagreed, and were locked up all night during the adjournment of the court; and that, on finding Jones not guilty on the following Saturday morning, the judge said he entirely concurred in the finding of the jury, and trusted that the police of the Transvaal Republic would act in a similar manner on similar occasions in future; and whether he proposes to take any action with a view to ensuring reasonable security for the lives of British subjects temporarily resident in the Transvaal?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN, Birmingham, W.)I have received from the High Commissioner a newspaper report of the trial of the policeman Jones on the charge of culpable homicide in killing Thomas Jackson Edgar. I have no reason to doubt the correctness of the report that the jury at first disagreed and were locked up all night; that the next morning they found a verdict of "Not guilty"; and that the judge expressed his concurrence in the verdict; he is reported to have added that he hoped that the police under difficult circumstances would always know how to do their duty. I am considering the question.
§ MR. DUNCOMBEMay I ask the right honourable Gentleman whether he will use his best endeavours to obtain some compensation for the widow of Mr. Edgar?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIESI cannot add anything to my previous answer.
§ MR. DUNCOMBEI beg to give notice that I shall call attention to the matter on the Estimates.