§ 57. Mr. J. HARRISasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the system of trial by assessors, 877 coupled with the power of the Judge to overrule the findings of assessors, is causing serious dissatisfaction in Sierra Leone; that, on 28th March last, an European official of the Southern Province, possessing a good conduct record and Military Cross, was tried under this system upon a charge of larceny; that the assessors unanimously found him not guilty; that the Judge thereupon sentenced him to six months' imprisonment, with hard labour, and refused to state a case for the appeal court; and what action does he propose to take in the matter?
§ Mr. LUNNThe Secretary of State is aware that some dissatisfaction has arisen in the Colony of Sierra Leone with regard to the system of trial by a Judge with assessors, which in certain cases may be substituted for trial by jury, and he has asked the Governor to elaborate a scheme for a local court of appeal from convictions by courts so constituted in certain canes. The particular case to which the hon. Member alludes occurred in the Protectorate of Sierra Leone where there is no provision for trial by jury and where the present level of education does not seem to make the introduction of the jury system possible at present. The Secretary of State, however, has no details of the proceedings in the case referred to by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. HARRISDoes not the hon. Gentleman realise that it is an extremely serious matter to sentence a white man in these territories to six months' hard labour; and will he not make some provision by which an appeal can be lodged?
§ Captain BERKELEYIs it not a fact that in all other Crown Colonies white men have the inalienable right of being tried by jury, and why is that practice departed from in this particular Colony?
§ Captain BERKELEY(at the end of questions): In view of the nature of the reply to this question, I beg to give notice that I will raise the whole question on the Adjournment to-morrow night.