§ MR. LEIF JONES (Westmorland, Appleby)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that William Emberson, a private, was on Friday, 31st May, committed for trial at Portsmouth for shooting Charles Fred Beard, a private in the 2nd Middlesex Regiment; whether, at the inquest, Emberson admitted that he had been drinking heavily; whether the jury censured the military authorities for allowing cartridges in the barrack store-room, and also for serving drink from the canteen to soldiers in an intoxicated condition; and whether the War Office propose to take any, and, if so, what, steps to prevent such occurrences in future.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) My attention has been drawn to this case; but, having regard to the fact that Private Emberson has been committed for trial on a capital charge, it would not be proper for me to make any statement about the circumstances of the case at the 821 present time. The case is being closely watched.