§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been drawn to certain remarks made by Sheriff Guthrie, of Glasgow, in sentencing to nine months imprisonment for housebreaking a prisoner of nineteen years of age with three previous convictions, the sheriff suggesting that the prisoner should go into the Army to retrieve his character; whether, with the view of encouraging recruiting, he will point out to the sheriff the inadvisability of making such a suggestion again, more especially in a recruiting centre like Glasgow, where young men of good character join the colours.
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. A. GRAHAM MURRAY,) ButeshireI am confident the sheriff mentioned meant no disrespect to the Army; and if the Army offers to young men who have gone astray a chance of retrieving their lives, that does not seem matter for regret. In any case it does not fall within my duty or powers to interfere with a sheriff's discretion in the method of passing sentence.