§ Mr. AKERS-DOUGLAS (Kent, St. Augustine's)To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the statements and materials furnished by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in connection with the Edalji case, which were submitted to the Attorney-General, have now been considered by the Attorney-General; and, if so, with what result.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) The statements and materials referred to were submitted by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as disclosing a case against a person whom he suspected of having been concerned in the cattle-maiming outrages, of one of which Mr. Edalji was convicted, and also of having been the author of certain anonymous letters which have been attributed to Mr. Edalji. The Attorney-General and Sir Charles Mathews have advised that these statements and materials disclose no case even of a prima facie character against the individual indicated by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and that no action can be taken thereon.