§ MR. WATTI beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether, in connection with the case of Robert Simpson, of Glasgow, who was sentenced on 12th June last to five years penal servitude, his attention has been called to the facts that letters admitting the authorship of the telegram and purporting to come from John Hill, an important witness who was not produced at the trial, were received on the 10th and 23rd July; that these letters are held by experts to be in the same handwriting as the telegram for writing which Simpson was found guilty; and whether in view of the facts that the juries in the civil 206 action and in the criminal action differed as to Simpson having written the telegram and that 40,450 people have petitioned in favour of reduction of the sentence, he will order this man's release or reduce the punishment.
§ MR. SINCLAIRThe inquiry which has been made into the whole facts and circumstances of this case discloses no ground for action in either of the directions suggested by my hon. friend.
§ MR. WATTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the jury in the civil action after long consideration found this man not guilty of having written the telegram, and ought not that to have some bearing on his decision.