HC Deb 15 November 1906 vol 165 cc114-6
MR. CLAUDE HAY (Shoreditch, Hoxton)

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General whether the Treasury were aware that on the 3rd February last a communication was published setting out the allegations made by the prosecutors, Taylor and Hood, in the case of Rex v. Fowler, and also Mr. Fowler's version of the matter; and, if so, were any, and, if so, what, steps taken by the Treasury to verify Mr. Fowler's statement.

* THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir JOHN WALTON,) Leeds, S.

The Answer is in the negative.

MR. ASHLEY

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General whether the prosecutors, Taylor and Hood, in the case of Rex v. Fowler, wanted to make something out of their connection with the case, and refused to take the allowances made to them by the Treasury on the ground that they were too small; and whether Hood wrote to the Treasury on the subject.

* SIR JOHN WALTON

said the men were entitled as witnesses to four days allowance and only got two, but they applied for the extra and had since received payment.

MR. CHARLES CRAIG (Antrim, S.)

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General whether the Treasury are aware that the statements on oath of Hood and Taylor in the case of Rex v. Fowler when applying for the summonses at Oxted Police Court on the 13th August, 1906, each contained similar inaccuracies; and, if so, whether the Treasury intend to institute proceedings against these men for conspiracy; and, if not, will he explain why.

* SIR JOHN WALTON

said the inaccuracies were not such as to justify a charge of criminal conspiracy.

MR. COURTHOPE (Sussex, Rye)

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General whether the Treasury were aware, when preparing the case for the prosecution in Rex v. Fowler, that one Frank Attwood Huckle consulted the hon. Member for Reigate as to approaching the Treasury with a view to the Crown undertaking the prosecution: and whether Frank Attwood Huckle did not give evidence to this effect.

* SIR JOHN WALTON

The Answer is in the negative. The Treasury were not aware prior to the hearing that any such interview had taken place.

VISCOUNT TURNOUR (Sussex, Horsham)

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General whether the Treasury were aware when the prosecution was undertaken by the Crown in the case of Rex v. Fowler that the hon. Member for Reigate called on the accused Fowler on the 3rd February last, and was then furnished by the accused with a full statement of the facts which were subsequently given in evidence by Mr. Fowler and Colonel Brewster, at the Oxted petty sessions, in this case; and whether Mr. Fowler offered to place the whole of the correspondence connected with the ease at the disposal of the hon. Member for Reigate.

* SIR JOHN WALTON

No, Sir; they were not aware of any such interview.

VISCOUNT TURNOUR

Will the facts which have since transpired in any way affect the decision of the Treasury to take no further proceedings?

* SIR JOHN WALTON

No, Sir.

MR. HICKS BEACH (Gloucestershire, Tewkesbury)

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General whether the Treasury made any inquiries into the bona fides of the persons they intended to call as witnesses in the case of Rex v. Fowler, or took any steps to ascertain whether their evidence could be relied on.

* SIR JOHN WALTON

Inquiries were made in regard to the character of the witnesses, and the Public Prosecutor informs me that there was no reason to doubt the bona fides of any of the witnesses who were called to give evidence at the hearing.