§ Sir JOHN JARDINEasked the Lord Advocate if three sentences of birching passed by Sheriff-Substitute Baillie at Jedburgh on three boys of 12 or 14 years of age, have yet been executed in regard to a prosecution for taking rabbits out of a trap in Lord Campbell's park; whether any of these children have been previously convicted; and whether, in similar cases, the First Offenders Act or the Children Act has been brought to the notice of the courts in Scotland?
§ Mr. UREI am informed that the sentences referred to have been duly carried out. None of the boys had been previously convicted. On the passing into law of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1907, and the Children Act, 1908, respectively, the attention of judges in the summary criminal courts in Scotland was directed to the provisions of these Acts by circulars issued from the Scottish Office, and I am further informed that in selecting the form of punishment which ho considered the most judicious in the circumstances the Sheriff-Substitute had fully in view the various methods of dealing with these cases open to him under these Acts.