§ 99. Mr. CROOKSasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the Coroner's inquest at the Edmonton Infirmary on the 17th inst. on the death of Gnr. George William Henry Elsley, of the Royal Field Artillery; whether he is aware that the jury returned a verdict that the soldier died from pneumonia, supervening upon the administration of an anæsthetic to perform a necessary operation, necessitated by reason of the deceased being pushed down a flight of stone steps by a sergeant whilst his hands were handcuffed behind his back, and further expressing the opinion that there was no justification for such procedure, that a staff sergeant was deserving of censure for issuing the order for handcuffing behind, and calling upon the military authorities to hold an inquiry into the whole matter forthwith; and whether steps have been taken to institute the inquiry called for?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONI regret that I can add nothing at present to my reply on 4th August to the hon. Member for Spelthorne. The investigation in this case is not yet completed.