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But to return to the matter which forms the especial subject of this Report. The opinion expressed by me upon the propriety of introducing a Bill for the Oral Examination of Prisoners did not meet with the approval of Sir Richard MacDonnell, and a Bill prepared with that object was submitted to the Council.
Prior to the second reading of such Bill, I was requested by His Excellency to furnish him with any suggestions which might occur to me so as to render it more efficient, and to this duty I applied myself. One or more of my suggestions were adopted, but the residue were negatived in Council.
I annex a Copy of the Ordinance with the effect of my suggestions embodied. Those negatived, it will be seen, practically amount to the following:
1. That the Examination should be confined to those cases when, on the trial of a prisoner, the presiding Judge should think that one or more questions discreetly put to a prisoner might tend to elicit the truth and clear up any doubt which might exist upon any portions...