§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can explain why the death of Private C. M'Gill, 2nd Coldstream Guards, who was stated in a British casualty list published last September to have been accidentally shot at Pretoria on 5th May, was not reported till four months after the occurrence; were the circumstances of M'Gill's death investigated by court-martial; and can he state by whose hand M'Gill met his death.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLPerhaps the Secretary of State will reply himself.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLNo, Sir; I will not have it. I rise to order, Sir. In a matter affecting the policy of the Government, I submit with great respect that the Cabinet Minister responsible should answer. The Financial Secretary to the War Office is not responsible; he is merely a pendant of the office.
§ * MR. SPEAKERThere is no compulsion in the matter. It is a very common practice for one Minister to request another to answer for him, either because he has more cognisance of the facts, or for some other reason. If the hon. Member objects to the practice, he can protest on the Vote for the salary of the Minister.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI shall do that in great form.
LORD STANLEYI am very glad the hon. Member has given me an opportunity of stating the true facts of this case. Private M'Gill died on the 5th June, and on the 6th June the officer commanding his company communicated the occurrence to Mrs. M'Gill. Further, when the confirmation of the death reached the War Office by post, it was at once notified to Mrs. M'Gill on the 27th July. No court-martial was held, as it was unnecessary, but from the usual court of inquiry it was elicited that M'Gill accidentally shot himself with a revolver which he found when searching 421 for arms in a house in Pretoria; the only witness who saw the act was a private soldier.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLIf the man accidentally shot himself—if he committed suicide—why was it reported that he was accidentally shot?
§ [No answer was returned.]