§ 41. Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that in the Gold Coast Colony, recently, a white man named Evans, found guilty of stealing amalgam valued at £75, was sentenced to one day's imprisonment, and that a coloured man named Blisset, who had served the Government for twenty-three years, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment upon a charge of falsifying labour pay sheets for the sum of 25s., and the assessors in this case unanimously expressed the opinion that Blisset was innocent; and whether such contrasts of judicial decisions will receive consideration, with a view to the remission of Blisset's sentence?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Harcourt)I am aware of the cases referred to by my hon. Friend, and have already had before mo the evidence in the trial of Stationmaster Blisset. I am making further inquiries, and shall give the matter full consideration when the reports for which I have called are available.
§ Mr. HARCOURTNo; I could not suggest that from what I have heard of the evidence.