MR. WHITEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Why, or on what grounds, he has consented to relieve the Wells Union from the cost of maintenance, at Broadmoor Asylum, of William Bisgrove, sentenced to death for murder, and after such sentence certified 652 to be insane, when he has refused to relieve the ratepayers of Brighton from the burthen of the maintenance at the Broadmoor Asylum of Christiana Edmunds, alike sentenced to death for murder, and who also as in the case of Bisgrove, was subsequently certified to be insane?
MR. BRUCEsaid, in reply, that the practice was for the Treasury to bear the costs of the maintenance of lunatics under sentence of penal servitude, but not of other persons becoming lunatics. William Bisgrove was, and Christina Edmunds had never been, under such sentence. Moreover, Christiana Edmunds had relations who were able to pay for her support. The Home Office was not able to compel them to do so—the parochial authorities were able, and he thought they ought to see to it.