§ 76. Mr. GINNELLasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has read the affidavit of Mirissage Kathohamy Silva that, on the night of the 6th June, 1915, some Moormen, under the command of Lieutenant W. Dickinson, and another Englishman, forcibly entered her house, called her husband, Andris Silva, shot him dead in the house in her presence, and gave an order for the burial of the body, signed W. Dickinson, Lieutenant C.M.R.; whether Sir Robert Chalmers, then Governor of Ceylon, has given any explanation of this particular case; and whether Lieutenant W. Dickinson is now in His Majesty's service?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY Of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Steel-Maitland)I have read what purports to be a transcript of the affidavit in question, but I have no reason to believe that it accurately represents the facts.
§ Mr. GINNELLThe Under-Secretary has failed to answer the last part of the question: Whether Lieutenant Dickinson is still in His Majesty's service, and what action Lieutenant Dickinson proposes to take to clear his character of the allegation contained in this question?
§ Mr. STEEL-MAITLANDI am not aware that Lieutenant Dickinson needs to take any action whatsoever in order to clear his character in this connection.
§ Mr. GINNELLIs he still in the public service?
§ Mr. STEEL-MAITLANDAs far as I am aware, he is still in the public service.
§ Mr. GINNELLHe is a rascal!