§ Moved, "That this House do now adjourn."—(The Marquess of Ripon.)
THE EARL OF DONOUGHMOREMy Lords, on the Motion for the adjournment I desire to make a personal explanation with regard to Lord Ashtown's case, in view of the contradiction of my previous statement by Lord Castletown. I have made careful inquiries and am informed that the facts are as follow:—There is a standing police regulation that in all cases of malicious injury the police are to furnish to the applicant and to the county council a statement of the matters appearing upon their investigation, but they are expressly instructed by the same regulation not to advance theories or make charges. In Lord Ashtown's case the report complying with this regulation, being the report of the police sergeant, who came upon the scene shortly after the explosion, was, in fact, furnished in accordance with the regulation to the parties; but Inspector Preston's report was an unprecedented publication and was so admitted by him in cross examination.
§ House adjourned at half-past Seven o'clock, till To-morrow, half-past Ten o'clock.