§ Mr. A. Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for War whether he has now completed his inquiries regarding Army evidence at assizes in connection with a recent case at Chester.
§ Sir J. GriggYes, Sir. The officer who was present was not subpoenaed to attend the trial, but went to it in pursuance of the arrangement described in the answer I gave the hon. Member on 15th March. He was asked to give evidence of the soldier's character after conviction and before sentence. It is quite usual for Judges in such a case to hear the officer who is present and has with him documentary information about the character of the accused, even if the officer himself has no personal knowledge of him. But the judge has complete discretion as to whether he hears the officer or not. So far as the Army Regulations are concerned, they were properly complied with.