§ MR. JOSEPH DEVLIN (Kilkenny, N.)To ask the Lord - Advocate whether his attention has been called to a case heard in the St. Rollox Police Court, Glasgow, on Thursday, 13th July, 1905, in which one Joseph Campbell was charged with riotous and disorderly behaviour, and in which the evidence of the policemen who arrested him was so contradictory that the magistrate, Bailie Scott, did not think it necessary to hear the defence further and dismissed the case, declaring the charge not proven; and will he s ay whether any official action has been taken in connection with the policemen 31 concerned with this case; and, if so, of what nature; and if it is roposed to order an inquiry into the matter.
(Answered by Mr. Scott Dickson.) lam informed that there were some contradictions in the evidence of the constables. Seven witnesses were examined for the defence, who stated that Campbell was not disorderly, and that one of the constables assaulted Campbell, his wife, and his daughter. There were other witnesses for the defence, but the magistrate said he did not wish to hear them, and found the charge "not proven." The complaints against the constable of assaulting Campbell, his wife, and his daughter have been taken up by the Procurator-Fiscal, and will be dealt with in due course.
§ MR. JOSEPH DEVLINTo ask the Lord-Advocate whether his attention has been called to the fact that in two cases in which charges of using profane language were brought by policemen in the Glasgow Courts last week, the magistrates disallowed the evidence tendered on behalf of the prosecution; and that in one of the cases the police inspector stated that no particulars of the language complained of were entered in the charge sheet; and whether, in view of the fact that in Glasgow persons who incur the enmity of the police may be arrested at any time on a charge of using profane language, and in view of the indignation that exists in Glasgow at the conduct of the police, he will consider the desirability of taking steps to deal with the alleged grievance.
(Answered by Mr. Scott Dickson.) The two cases referred to are those reported on in reply to the hon. Member's two other Questions. Regarding the statement of the police inspector that no particulars of the language complained of were entered in the charge sheet, under instructions from the Procurator Fiscal the particular words used in obscene language cases are not inserted in the charge sheet, but if, when the case is before the Court, the defence demands further specification, the words complained of 32 are added with the consent of the magistrates.
§ MR. JOSEPH DEVLINTo ask the Lord-Advocate whether his attention has been called to a case heard at the Police Court, Glasgow, on the 10th July, 1905, in which a girl was charged with using: obscene language on the previous Saturday night; whether he is aware that two constables spoke to the nature of the language used by the girl, who denied the charge and stated that at the time alleged she was in the company of another girl and two constables, and that the action was then concluded;: and whether any action will be taken in the case of the constables responsible for the original charge.
(Answered by Mr. Scott Dickson.) I have inquired, into the matter, and on the information supplied to me there is no ground for taking any action in the case of the constables referred to.