HC Deb 21 February 1902 vol 103 cc706-7
MR. HENRY J. WILSON

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has now any information as to the case of Mr. Alheit, the minister of the Dutch Reformed Church at Ceres, in the Cape Colony, who was arrested there by the military on or about the 27th August, 1901, taken to Malmesbury, and there imprisoned; whether he has ever been charged with any offence, and if so, with what; whether he has ever been tried, and if so, by what Court, and with what result, or whether he is still in gaol; and can he explain why this minister was not tried at Malmesbury on or about the 27th September last, by the judge who sat in that circuit town at that date as the Judge of Assize.

MR. BRODRICK

Mr. Alheit was arrested at Ceres on 27th August, 1901, arrived in Malmesbury on the 28th, and remained in gaol until released on parole on the 25th October. Affidavits had been entered against him for using treasonable language, and his influence had been used in favour of the enemy. The general officer commanding at the Cape, on a review of the whole evidence in October, deckled that the circumstances did not necessitate his further detention.