§ MR. WILLIAM JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the attention of Her Majesty's Government has been directed to the case of Daniel Scott, a British sailor, unable to speak or understand Spanish, who has been in prison for seven months, without trial, at Bilbao, Spain. Whether up till the time of his imprisonment for an alleged assault he held a good character; and whether, as 16 he has three children dependent on him for support, the Government will take immediate steps to procure his discharge.
* MR, BRODRICKThe case has received, and is receiving, the careful attention of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Scott was arrested at Bilbao on January 29th, 1899, on the charge of being drunk and disorderly. He was further charged with having assaulted the police and gaoler of the lock-up. As he had received serious wounds in the scuffle,, he was placed in the first instance in the prison infirmary, whence at the instance of Her Majesty's Consul he was removed for better treatment to the Civil Hospital at Bilbao. He was sent back to the prison as cured on March 2nd. The case was then put down for trial in its proper turn. Repeated representations have been made to the Spanish Government through Her Majesty's Embassy at Madrid with a view to expedite the proceedings. Her Majesty's Government have some time ago authorised the Consul at Bilbao to engage the services of a Spanish lawyer to conduct Scott's defence. A further Report has been telegraphed for.