§ DR. SHIPMAN (Northampton)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Quartermaster-Sergeant Allen of the Northampton Regiment, who was acquitted by Court-martial on the 13th April last of charges of falsifying accounts, was under arrest for seven weeks before being brought to trial, although a man of good character and with no previous charge against him, and that the Court-martial was not held till more than five weeks after the charges were drafted and sent to headquarters; and whether he can give the reason for such delay, especially in a military judicial proceeding.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) In the first place, owing to the complicated character of the case, the General Officer Commanding found it necessary to make several references to the Judge Advocate-General before the charges could be framed. On the 11th March the application was submitted to the War Office. The subsequent delay was due to the employment of counsel 322 on both sides and the necessary arrangements involved thereby.