§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the whole number of the natives who were recently tried on capital charges in Sierra Leone; how many of these were left without professional assistance in their defence, how many of the undefended prisoners were convicted, and how many have been executed; whether it is the long-established practice of the Colonial Office to provide natives tried on capital charges with professional assistance; if so, why was this practice departed from in the recent cases; and, why was not Chief Doonahay afforded an opportunity of obtaining funds for his defence.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.I understand that 229 natives were tried; of these 77 were undefended, of whom 62 were convicted, and of these 33 were executed. The Colonial Government endeavoured in every case to obtain counsel for the prisoners, but the local practitioners were unwilling to be engaged and it was found impossible to provide for the defence in all cases. It does not appear that Doomabey (not Doonahay) expressed any desire to obtain funds for his defence.
§ MR. DAVITT (Mayo, S.)May I ask if interpreters were employed to explain to the accused the evidence brought against them?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI have no doubt interpreters were employed, but if a positive reply is wanted the honourable Member must put a question upon the Paper.
§ SIR W. LAWSON (Cumberland, Cockermouth)With what were the prisoners charged?
§ MR.J. CHAMBERLAINWith murder under circumstances of the grossest character.
§ MR. PICKERSGILLWhy did the local practitioners object to appear for the prisoners?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINThe local practitioners were natives, and they declined to appear, but way I cannot say.