TYNWALD COURT. Douglas, Friday, May 29, 1903. Present (in the Council) : His Excellency Sir James Gell, Deputy–Governor, Deemster Kneen, Deemster Moore, the Lord Bishop, the Vicar- General, the Archdeacon, and the Receiver- General. (In the Keys) : Messrs P. Cadman, W. A. Hutchinson, J. R. Kerruish, T. Corlett, W. T. Orennell, J. T. Cowell, J. C. erellin, R. Clucas, T. Allen, R. Cowley, W. Goldsmith, J. Qualtrough, J. J. Goldsmith, J. Mylchreest, W. H. Kitto, W. Quayle, W. J. Kermode, J. D. Clucas, Hall Caine, A. N. Laughton, and W. Quine. Mr H. Story, Clerk to the Council, and Mr R. D. Gelling, Secretary to the House of Keys, were in attendance. On the motion of Mr Crellin, seconded by Mr Kerruish, Mr Allen was voted to the Speaker's chair. BILLS SIGNED. The Deputy-Governor laid before the Court for signature the Valuation Bill and the Educa- tion (German and Patrick) Bill. ALLEGED OUTRAGES AT DALBY. The Deputy-Governor also laid before the Court the report of the Commission appointed by his Excellency the Deputy-Governor to in- quire into the recent cattle outrages at Dalby. On the motion of the Receiver-General it was resolved that the report be printed and circu- lated. Appended is a copy of the report :— REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY 1119 EXCELLENCY THE DEPUTY-GOVERNOR TO INQUIRE INTO AND REPORT UPON CERTAIN ALLEGED OUTRAGES AND DE- PREDATIONS AT DALBY. COMMISSION. Is of Man to Wit. His Excellency Sir James Gell, Knight, a Com- mander of the Royal Victorian Order, Deputy- Governor of the said Isle. To his Honour Thomas Kneen, ESquire, First Deemster; Lieutenant-Colonel William James Anderson, Receiver-General; Alfred Nelson Bills Signed.—Alleged Outrages at Dalby. 864 TYNWALD COURT, May 29, 1903. Laughton. Esquire, High-Bailiff of Peel; and George Drinkwater, Esquire, his Majesty's Crown Receiver for the Isle of Man, one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace. Greeting.—Whereas, for some months past commaints have been made of serious outrages and depredations having been committed at and near Dalby, in the parish of Patrick, by secret trespass and the slaughtering of sheep and cattle, and otherwise, to the great injury of the owners thereof, and of his Majesty's subjects resident in and in the vicinity of Dalby, and it is deemed necessary that full inquiry should be made into the matters aforesaid. Know ye, therefore, that I, reposing trust and confidence in your zeal, industry, and discre- tion, do by these presents nominate, constitute, and appoint you, the said Thomas Kneen, Wiliam James Anderson, Alfred Nelson Laugh- ton, and George Drinkwater, to be Commissioners for the purpose of making inquiry into the matters aforesaid, and particularly to inquire:— (1) As to the steps which have been taken hither- to to discover the perpetrators of the said outrages: (2) As to whether any further investigations are desirable, and, if so, to make such further and additional investigations for ascertain- ing the truth in_the premises, as to you may appear advisable; and (3) As to whether any, and what, steps, by legis- lation, or otherwise, should he taken to pre- vent the commission of outrages of a like character. And I do hereby enjoin you to make diligent inquiry into all and every the matters aforesaid. and to make a full, true, and particular report of the same. And for the better discovery of the truth in the premises, I do by these presents give and grant unto you full power and authority to call before you such persons as you shall judge necessary by whom you may be better informed of the premises, and every part thereof, by all other lawful ways and means whatsoever. And I do hereby give and grant unto you full power and authority, when the same shall appear to be requisite, to administer an oath or oaths to any person or persons to be examined before you touching and concerning the premises, all examinations, hereunder to be conducted either publicly or otherwise, as to you may appear expedient. And I do hereby require of you to make your report in the premises as soon as conveniently may be. And for your assistance in the execution of the said Commission I have made choice of Richard Daniel Gelling, Esquire, Advocate, to be Secre- tary to this Commission, and to attend you, whose services and assistance I require you to use from time to time as occasion may require. Provided always, that the duties imposed on you hereby may be performed by you, or any three of you. And I hereby command all officers, coroners, and all his Majesty's subjects within this Isle, to be assistant to you and each of you in the execu- tion of these presents. Given at Castletown under my hand and the seal public of the said Isle, on the 26th day of Alleged Outrages at Dalby. TYNWALD COURT, May 29, 1903. 865 December, in the year of our Lord, 1902, and in the second year in the reign of our Sovereign Lord Edward the Seventh, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and of all the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith. Emperor of India. J. GELD, Deputy-Governor. COMMITTEE'S REPORT. May it please your Excellency, We, the undersigned Commissioners appointed to inquire into the outrages and depredations committed at Dalby, in the parish of Patrick, desire humbly to submit to your Excellency our report. The terms of our reference were to inquire into the outrages and depredations alleged to have been committed at or near Dalby, in the parish of Patrick, by secret trespass and the slaughter- ing of cattle and sheep and otherwise, and par- ticularly to inouire- (1) As to the steps which have been taken hitherto to discover the perpetrators of the said outrages; (2) As to whether any further investigations are desirable, and, if so, to make such further and additional investigations for ascertain- ing the truth in the premises as to you may appear advisable; and (3) As to whether any and what steps, by legis- -lation or otherwise, should be taken to pre- vent the commission of outrages of a like character. PROCEDURE. We have held 30 sittings, and have examined upwards of 60 witnesses. From the evidence of Charles Hutchin, of Creg Lea, Patrick, it appears that, about the summer of 1901, he suspected that his stock was being maliciously injured. He accordingly kept a list of the losses alleged to have been sustained by him, which he stated to us to have been as follows:— Harvest, 1901—Lamb stabbed in the side. 9th October, 1901—Sheep and lamb missing. 6th November, 1901—Two lambs missing. Cart put over a steep bank, 9th November, 1901—Ram lamb missing. 23rd November, 1901—Ram lamb found dead, with its neck broken, in the field adjoin- ing the dwelling-house. 29th November, 1901—Stock ram found dead, with its neck broken, in the field near the dwelling-house. 20th December, 1901—Lamb missing. 22nd January, 1902—Lamb found dead, with its neck broken. 4th February, 1902—Sheep found dead, with its neck broken. 18th Febrifary, 1902—Plough carried about quarter of is mile and damaged. 8th March, 1902—Two sheep. alive, but fastened to the ground by the bars of a gate being passed through the lankets; also a lamb missing. 14th March. 1902—Turnip cutter damaged. Dead lamb found in his well. 28th May, 1902—Lamb missing. Alleged Outrages at Dalby. 866 TYNWALT) COURT, May 29, 1903. 9th August. 1902—Sheep found dead, with its neck broken. 12th October, 1902—Sheep found dead, with its neck broken. 16th September, 1902--Three young cattle found dead among the rocks at the shore, with holes in their heads. 29th October. 1902—One bullock found dead in the field adjoining the house, with its neck broken. We now propose to deal seriatim with the par- ticular matters referred to us. 1.—"As to the steps which have been taken hitherto to discover the perpetrators of the said outrages." From the preliminary inquiries made by us from Mr Hatchin and the police, we were not satisfied with what had been done from time to time. In almost every instance Mr Hutchin either made no immediate complaint to the police, or delayed informing them until after ha had interfered with the carcases, or they had been mutilated by dogs or birds. The services of a veterinary surgeon were not called in at any time to examine the carcases. In the case of three cattle killed on the night of the 15th September 1902, the carcases were discovered and examined by Mr Hutchin, on the afternoon of the following day. It was then found that there was a hole in each skull. Two of the animals had apparently been kilted some distance from and had been dragged to the place where the bodies were found. Information was given to the Inspector of Police at Peel on the same evening, but it was not until noon of the following day (the 17th) that a constable arrived on the ground. The con- stab-e, along with a farm servant in Mr Hut- chin's employ, examined only two of the car- cases, in what we consider a somewhat cursory manner. No other examination of these or any examination of the third carcase was made by or on behalf of the police. The Jury of Inquiry called at the instance of the police did not meet until the 2nd October, and no satisfactory explanation has been given to us as to this ae.ay.