asked the Minister for Justice if it is a fact that the Jury who returned the verdict of murder against Felix McMullan have actually presented to the Governor-General a petition for his reprieve.

The answer is in the affirmative.

Is it a fact that the Jury stated in this memorial that but for the action of the judge they would have brought in a verdict of manslaughter; was that considered by Executive Council and what was the reason for not granting the reprieve?

The Jury in the second trial, having brought in a verdict of murder, presented a petition and in the course of that petition made certain statements with regard to the first trial and with regard to the mentality of those who formed the Jury in the first trial. That was a matter of which they had no personal knowledge and their petition was treated as the petition of any twelve ordinary citizens.