§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Secretary of State for India why no official report has been issued of a mutiny or insurrection alleged to have been attempted in India a couple of years ago, of which particulars published in America have been repeated in this country; whether in connection with the attempt fifty-one persons have been found guilty of offences punishable by death; will he state what those offences were; what was the constitution of the Courts: whether the accused were allowed counsel of their own choosing; 927W how many persons were executed and how many sent to penal servitude in pursuance of sentences of those Courts; and how many of the latter have since died?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe hon. Member is probably thinking of the conspiracy case trial at Lahore in 1915, particulars of which were published in the Lahore newspapers more than a year ago. The trial was before a special tribunal, constituted under the Defence of India Act, the accused being represented by counsel by their own choosing. Twenty-four persons were sentenced to death and twenty-seven to transportation for life for attempt to wage war against the King. Seventeen of the death sentences were commuted, and seven persons hanged. I have not heard of any deaths among the convicts sentenced to transportation.