HL Deb 16 July 1877 vol 235 c1316
THE EARL OF MINTO

moved for Returns from each county in Scotland of the number of cases of sudden death or of death under suspicious or unknown circumstances which had been the subject of precognition (secret inquest) by procurators fiscal (public prosecutors) in each of the years 1875–76; also specifying the number of such cases as have afterwards been the subject of criminal

THE DUKE OF RICHMOND

and GORDON had no objection to the production of the Returns, provided the words "secret inquest" and "public prosecutors" were struck out; he did not see how they were necessary.

THE EARL OF MINTO

said, that his only wish in introducing those words was to make the Notice more intelligible, it being often said that Scotch law language was so barbarous that nobody in England understood it. All he wished was to make the Return as intelligible as possible, and he could not understand the objection the noble Duke had to the words; but, of course, if the noble Duke objected, to them, rather than not have the Return he would leave them out.

The words having accordingly been struck out—

Motion agreed to; Returns ordered to be laid before the House.

House adjourned at a quarter past Eight o'clock, till To-morrow, Two o'clock.