HC Deb 30 April 1868 vol 191 c1579
MR. REARDEN

said, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is his intention to recommend to the Crown the respiting of the prisoner Michael Barrett, against whom a verdict of guilty was returned by the jury, and sentence of death passed by the Judge on his trial at the Old Bailey on the 27th instant, notwithstanding the sworn testimony of six witnesses, who proved that the prisoner was not in England at the time the crime was committed for which he has been found guilty, in order to afford the prisoner an opportunity of producing further evidence to establish his innocence?

MR. GATHORNE HARDY

I regret, Sir, that an hon. Member of this House should think it his duty to put such a Question to me. Under the circumstances, I think it my duty to decline to answer it,

MR. REARDEN

announced his intention of calling the attention of the House to the subject.