§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the Kaffirs who gave evidence against Scheepers and Lotter were sworn on the Protestant Bible; what is the ordinary procedure in African Courts adopted to give sanctity to the testimony of pagans; whether the Courts Martial who tried the condemned men contained any officer acquainted with legal procedure in Africa or England; and, if so, what is the name of such officer; have any record or depositions been preserved of the evidence given on these trials, and who were the officers who composed the Courts; have the Government required or called for an official account of capital trials by Court Martial in Africa; whether these will be placed at the disposal of hon. Members before any Act of Indemnity is applied for; by what process were the Courts of death sentence constituted, and under what procedure; and where can this procedure be found in the King's Regulations.
§ MR. BRODRICKI have no information as regards the religion of the witnesses; there is a recognised form of declaration for pagan witnesses. The Return, which I have called for and which will be shortly to hand, will show the members composing the Courts where death sentences have been passed. They will be given to Parliament. These Courts were constituted under the Proclamation of Martial Law, and the procedure was that of a General or Field General Court Martial, details of which will be found in the "Manual of Military 578 Law." Records of evidence have been preserved.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYWill this Return show the procedure in these matters
§ MR. BRODRICKI cannot say until I see them.