§ MR. SCHWANN (Manchester, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the trial and composition of the jury in what is known as the Sangramgar murder case, in which one Martin was accused of the murder of Bistu Bowri, when twelve special jurors were summoned, six Europeans and six Indians, from whom five jurors were to be chosen, and that of the six Indians five were rejected except one, who with four Europeans from the panel, tried and acquitted the accused; and, if so, will the action of the district judge in summoning a jury half of Europeans and half of Indians and in allowing the actual jury to consist of four Europeans and one Indian be inquired into, as well as the evidence of the alleged partiality of two or three of the jurors as shown on the jury being struck and during the trial, especially with reference to Mr. M'Nicoll and Mr. Davies.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON,) Middlesex, EalingI have no information as to the case referred to in the question. If any irregularity occurred in the trial it was open to the Local Government to apply to the High Court to deal with the proceedings in exercise of their power of revision. But, as regards the constitution of the jury, I may remind the hon. Member that, under Section 450 of the Criminal Procedure Code, if any European British subject requires to be tried by a mixed jury, "the trial should be by a jury of which not less than half of the number shall be Europeans."