§ MR. SHERRIFFsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been directed to a statement reported in the Birmingham Daily Post, of Tuesday, the 20th instant, to the effect that Emily Jane Ballard, a child said to be about ten years of age, was—on suspicion of having stolen a penny from another child while attending Divine Service at Inkberrow Church, near Redditch—ordered by the Vicar of the parish, the Rev. G. R. Gray, who is also a magistrate for the county of Worcester, to be confined in the lock-up at Redditch, where she remained till the Friday following; and whether bail was offered for the appearance of the child and refused by Mr. Gray?
§ SIR GEORGE GREY, in reply, said, he was not aware of the facts of the case; but since the hon. Gentleman had placed 846 his Notice on the Paper he had seen the statement referred to in a newspaper, from which it appeared that the case was adjourned until that very day. If the statement were correct—and whether it was or not he had as yet no means of judging—he considered that some explanation of the circumstances by the magistrate was required. That explanation would be called for, and he should on a future occasion be able to state the result,