MR. SULLIVANasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is true, as stated in the "Press and St. James Chronicle" of the 17th instant, that at Stamford a person named Hammond was recently "watched through a dark unfrequented street, brutally knocked down, and robbed of a parcel which he was taking for special protection to the railway station; whether any complaint or report of this outrage was made to the police authorities; and, whether they have taken any steps or made any inquiries in consequence thereof; and, if no offender has been brought to justice for the outrage, what reason or explanation do the magistrates and the police assign for such failure?
MR. ASSHETON CROSScould not say whether the report was true or not; but a complaint was made to the police authorities of the town about a similar outrage, and the magistrates said they ordered a strict inquiry to be made into the matter. The police, however, were unable to trace the missing parcel or to find any clue to the perpetrator of the offence. Indeed, they had, it appeared, considerable doubt as to whether any such outrage had been committed at all; but he would order further inquiry to be made.