§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been directed to the inquiry last September concerning the death of a soldier at Aldershot, who, when insane, was treated as an ordinary prisoner, and to the remarks of the coroner that he had not received assistance from the military authorities in his investigation; that difficulties had been thrown in the way of obtaining the necessary documentary evidence, and that the accounts of the occurrence given to the police of the man's death had been misleading; and whether the War Office authorities have any explanation to make, or have made any effort to discover the persons responsible for this occurrence.
LORD STANLEYMy attention has been directed to this matter. The lunatic was treated in the prisoners' ward of the hospital; this ward, as perhaps the hon. Member is unaware, differs only from an ordinary ward in that it has bars on the windows and a guard-room close by. The other statements appear to be unfounded, and no complaints have been received from the coroner.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLBut did not the corner state that the military authorities had obstructed him in his inquiry?
§ [No answer was returned.]