HC Deb 09 December 1902 vol 116 c451
MR. PIRIE () Aberdeen, N.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, with reference to the court martial held in Cape Colony by the Standing Military Court, Western District, for the trial of Mr. J. H. Shoeman, M.L.A., can he explain why no preliminary examination was held as provided in the instructions on Martial Law, issued 1st May, 1901, and seeing that a promise had been made by the military authorities to the prisoner's attorney that at least seven days' notice should be given him of the charges against the prisoner before he was brought to trial, will he explain why, only on the day previous to the trial, the charges were communicated to the prisoner, thereby depriving him of the opportunity of calling witnesses for his defence.

MR. BRODRICK

The points raised in the question have been included in the letter recently despatched to General Officer Commanding, Cape Colony, on this subject.

MR. PIRIE

Why did not the case come before the Commission?

MR. BRODRICK

I cannot say. Of course the Commission took their own course; I have no control over them.

MR. PIRIE

When can we have papers? The case has aroused much interest in Cape Colony.

MR. BRODRICK

Time must be given for answers to be made to the letter sent to South Africa.