§ 64. Mr. JOWETTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the record of the court-martial by which a soldier, who was a boy from the East of London, was recently sentenced to death; whether he will ascertain and communicate to the 129 House the names of the officers constituting the court-martial; whether he will state the name of the officer or officers who confirmed the sentence of this court-martial; and if he will indicate whether the private referred to was defended by counsel, solicitor, or prisoner's friend?
§ Mr. TENNANTIt is regretted that it is not possible to comment upon the sentences of courts-martial approved by the Commander-in-Chief.
§ Mr. SNOWDENAre we to understand, from that reply, that it is or is not a fact that this boy, only nineteen years of age, was shot?
§ Mr. TENNANTI do not know what his age was, but undoubtedly he was shot.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the sentence of death was passed within a month of this boy leaving hospital, where he bad been for a nervous breakdown caused through wounds due to a mine explosion, and is it customary to shoot boys in such circumstances?
§ Mr. TENNANTI was not aware of that fact. If there was desertion—
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEIf I show the right hon. Gentleman letters I have received on the subject, will he take the matter into consideration?