§ MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)To ask the Lord Advocate if he will explain why certain fishermen residing at Cromarty were recently summoned to appear first at Dingwall and subsequently at Tain in connection with offences alleged to have been committed at Cromarty within a quarter of a mile of the courthouse provided for the trying of local cases, especially bearing in mind that the Dingwall Sheriff attonded at Cromarty and conducted business there only two days after the men were before the court at Dingwall; and, seeing that the trial at Dingwall or Tain of offences committed at Cromarty imposes heavy expenses on defendants as well as on witnesses, will instructions be given for such cases to be taken at the court-house at Cromarty in future.
(Answered by Mr. Thomas Shaw.) The Dingwall case was a private prosecution for poaching, and the fishermen referred to were convicted and fined. The offence to be tried at Tain is one of assault. I have made inquiries as to Tain and not Cromarty being selected as the place of trial, and I am informed that for several years cases of this character have been tried in Tain in consequence of disturbances which took place on the occasion I of the last Cromarty trial. It is the opinion of the sheriff and of all the authorities locally concerned that the practice should be followed on the present occasion, and I cannot see my way to countermand the order given for trial there accordingly.