HC Deb 16 March 1875 vol 222 cc1880-1
MR. CHARLES LEWIS

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the report in the "Herts Guardian" of the 6th instant of the committal, by one of the Judges of Assize, of William Craddock to prison for twelve calendar months for contempt of court, the fact being that Craddock, after his acquittal by the jury of the offence charged against him, addressed to his fellow prisoner, who had attempted to incriminate him, Craddock, the words "I'll give it you for splitting on me; "whether, under such order of imprisonment for contempt of court, Craddock is now suffering imprisonment and is put to hard labour of the second class; and, whether he has any power to arrest the carrying out of such order of imprisonment; and, if so, whether he will take steps to secure the release of Craddock?

MR. ASSHETON CROSS

, in reply, said, his attention had not been called to the statement referred by the hon. Member, but he believed it to be true that this man was committed for 12 months by Mr. Justice Denman for contempt of Court. The facts, however, as he was informed by that learned Judge, were scarcely in accord with the statements made in the Question. The two men were indicted for uttering base coin, Craddock, the elder, after two former convictions. The other man, who was much younger, pleaded "Guilty," and stood aside while the jury were being sworn to try Craddock. At that time," says the learned Judge, "I observed that Craddock stepped up to the other in a hasty way and spoke to him, and that the turnkey stepped between them and drew the other man aside. Craddock was tried, and, although the case was one of strong suspicion, he was acquitted. The learned Judge was then informed by the turnkey that just before the trial began, upon the other man's pleading "Guilty," Craddock had gone up to the other man and threatened that he would "give it him" or "do for him "when he (Craddock) came out for "splitting upon him." The learned Judge added— I had, and have, no doubt whatever that what he meant was to threaten the other man if he gave evidence on the trial against him. This I looked upon, and still look upon, as a very gross contempt of Court, which, having occurred under the eyes of the jury and in the dock just at the commencement of the trial, it was my duty summarily to punish if not erroneously imputed. That was the statement of the learned Judge, and in his (the Judge's) opinion the punishment was not too severe.

MR. CHARLES LEWIS

gave Notice that early after Easter he would bring under the consideration of the House the general subject of the power vested in the Judges without any appeal or reference to a jury to inflict fine and imprisonment, for so-called contempt of Court, upon Her Majesty's subjects.