§ MR. RIDLEYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether, having regard to the fact that James Smith (on whose behalf a Memorial from Acklington and the neighbourhood was presented to the Home Office before Easter,) has already been seven weeks in prison, he is now prepared to consider the special hardship of the case, with the view of remitting the remainder of the man's sentence?
MR. BRUCEreplied that the case related to another man as well as James Smith, who entered into recognizances for the appearance of a woman related to them. The woman effected her escape, and the men were unable to pay the sum in which they were bound. The ordinary rule was, that unless there was something very exceptional in the case they should be committed until payment, or at any rate for three months. He had inquired into the circumstances, and found that these men did not in any way facilitate the escape, but appeared to have been rather cruelly duped by the person for whom they entered into the recognizances. It was therefore his intention immediately to order their release.