HC Deb 13 June 1901 vol 95 cc285-6
MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydfil)

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to the sentence passed by Sheriff Lee, in the Forfar Sheriff Court, upon James Bean, tailor, Brechin, who was found technically guilty of a breach of Section 7 of the Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act for having jeered at some blacklegs, and was sentenced to thirty days imprisonment without the alternative of a fine, and whether, considering the length of this imprisonment for the alleged offence, he will cause the accused to be at once set at liberty.

*MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAY

The Secretary for Scotland has made inquiry into the case in question. The offence for which sentence was passed was not merely technical, and the Secretary for Scotland sees no reason for advising any remission.

MR. KEIR HARDIE

But did not the Sheriff himself describe the offence as technical, and does not strong indignation prevail in the district in regard to the sentence?

*MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAY

The Sheriff would hardly have described as technical an offence for which he sent a man to prison.