§ MR. CALDWELL (Lanarkshire, Mid)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to the fact that, whilst the Rev. W. W. Mickimmin, Newry, Ireland, was addressing an open-air meeting in Dumbarton on the evening of Wednesday, 3rd July, a publican threw over him and others the contents of a bucket containing porter or some other liquor; whether, seeing that the Rev. Mr. Mickimmin lodged a complaint at the burgh police office, Dumbarton, against the offender, he can explain why no prosecution has followed.
§ *THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. A. GRAHAM MURRAY, Buteshire)I have inquired into the circumstances of this case. The reverend gentleman, who is a temperance lecturer and an Orangeman, persisted in holding a meeting in front of the publican's house, who is a Catholic, and made use of very insulting language in reference to the publican and his wife. His proceedings, which were renewed on a subsequent occasion, caused great obstruction and 924 nearly entailed a dangerous riot. In the course of the second address the publican threw a bucket of beer and porter over him. Counter charges were lodged of assault and of obstruction. After consideration, Crown counsel directed that no proceedings should be taken on either charge. I think this decision was right. The reverend gentleman recovered a sum of 30s. in a civil action for damage to his clothes.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYWill the Lord Advocate endeavour to instil a little of this common sense into the Irish Executive?
§ MR. CALDWELLThen am I to understand that the sheriff decided both the civil and the criminal cases?
§ *MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAYThe sheriff decided that, although damage was done, it was not a case for a criminal prosecution.
§ MR. CALDWELLBut was not an assault actually committed?
§ *MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAYWell, it was a case of practical proselytism.