HC Deb 19 June 1899 vol 72 cc1485-6
SIR CHARLES CAMERON: (Glasgow, Bridgeton)

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to the case of Angus M'Naughton, baker, of Kinning Park, Glasgow, arrested on the 12th ultimo and locked up for the night on a charge of persistently following with intent to intimidate certain workmen in a bakery connected with which there was some trade dispute; whether the police officer arresting him had a warrant for his arrest; will he explain why the police refused to communicate to his wife the fact of his arrest and detention, also why on the occasion of his being brought before a magistrate on the 13th ultimo, and remanded for 48 hours, bail was offered and refused; and why, if the charge against him was a serious one, was he liberated on 16th May, after four nights' incarceration, without being called on even to make a declaration before the sheriff to whom his case was remitted.

THE LORD ADVOCATE (MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAY,) Buteshire

Inquiry has been made into the case referred to by the hon. Member. The police officer had no warrant; the arrest was made under Section 86 of the Burgh Police Act, 1892. My information is that the police did not refuse to communicate to the prisoner's wife the fact of his arrest and detention, and that bail was not offered, and therefore not refused. In reply to the last paragraph, the facts are these: The prisoner was brought before the magistrate on Saturday, the 13th, and the case was remitted to the Sheriff Court for consideration. The police report was made to the Sheriff's Procurator-Fiscal on Monday, the 15th. The case was considered on that day by the Procurator-Fiscal, and was disposed of on Tuesday, the 16th, the prisoner being liberated because the evidence was considered insufficient.

SIR CHARLES CAMERON

Will the right hon. Gentleman make further inquiry on the questions of bail, which I am assured was offered?

MR. A. G. MURRAY

I can only repeat what I have stated. If the bail was offered and refused, application could have been made to the Procurator-Fiscal. That certainly was not done