§ * MR. WILLIAM JONES (Carnarvonshire, Arfon)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the fact that the acting under-sheriff for the county of Carnarvon is solicitor to Lord Penrhyn, and, with his partner, a prosecutor in cases arising out of the Penrhyn Quarry dispute, which will come before Mr. Justice Grantham at the 92 Carnarvon Summer Assizes on Friday, 12th July, and whether, under these circumstances, the acting under-sheriff has summoned and empanelled the jurors who will try the said cases; if so, whether this is in accordance with the usual practice, and what steps he proposes to take in the matter.
§ * MR. RITCHIEI have no authority to take any action with regard to the facts as stated in the question—as to which facts I have no official information. The only remedy in such a case would be the legal one of challenge.
§ * MR. WILLIAM JONESMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will ascertain whether this same acting under sheriff is also an informant in one or more of the cases to be tried, as the matter is urgent and the cases are to come before the Assizes to-morrow.
§ * MR. RITCHIEI have told the hon. Gentleman that, assuming the facts to be true—and I have no doubt he has made inquiry as to that—I have no power to intervene. The only remedy I know of is the remedy of challenge. Every man on the whole panel can be challenged.