§ 42. Mr. SNOWDENasked what is the nature of the evidence on which certain conscientious objectors have been recalled to the Army on account of some incident which recently took place at Lyme Regis?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir G. Cave)The hon. Member no doubt refers to the occasion when four conscientious objectors visited Lyme Regis and jeered at some wounded soldiers for fighting for their country. The evidence on which the Committee on Employment of Conscientious Objectors recommended the recall to the Army of the men concerned consisted of the statements of the soldiers and of the women who heard what was said. Each of the men was given an opportunity of meeting the charge.
§ Mr. SNOWDENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the statements upon which these men were convicted were denied by members of the town council of Lyme Regis, and that the men themselves totally deny these charges?
§ Sir G. CAVEI know nothing about the statements made by members of the town council, but I have seen the evidence and the statements made by soldiers who were present and who heard what was said.
§ 43. Mr. SNOWDENasked whether Albert Leverson James, a conscientious objector, has recently died; what was the nature of his complaint; and whether his death was brought about by ill-treatment and neglect while in prison?
§ Sir G. CAVEThis man died on 17th May at the Work Centre at Wakefield, where he was employed on light work. Ho died of galloping consumption, of which the first symptoms appeared three days after his arrival in Wakefield. There is no ground for the suggestion of ill-treatment or neglect in prison.
§ Mr. SNOWDENWhat interval elapsed between his death and the contracting of galloping consumption while he was eon-fined in prison?
§ Sir G. CAVEHe was not confined in prison, and he continued to do light work as long as possible.