§ Mr. McGovernasked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that at the recent corruption trial at Edinburgh where three members of Glasgow Corporation Town Council were tried and sentenced, Mr. Lymnes, contractor, confessed to paying £600 for bribing and buying support; that Councillor Anderson confessed to receiving £500 of this for bribing certain members of the gas committee, of which he kept £325 in his personal possession; that ex-Councillor Campbell confessed to having solicited this money, and to having received and distributed £100; whether the Crown asked these men to turn King's evidence; and whether he proposes to put these three men on their trial?
1259W
§ The Lord AdvocateI am aware of the evidence given by the three men referred to. It was in my judgment necessary to call these men as witnesses for the Crown. After a person has been called as a witness for the Crown, it is incompetent under Scots law to prosecute him in respect of the matters about which he has given evidence. Accordingly, these three men will not be prosecuted.