MR. NORTHCOTEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to the circumstances under which an Italian boy named Riccioli was acquitted on April 25th at the Devon Assizes, on a charge of placing obstructions on the railway, with intent to wreck a train; and, if Her Majesty's Government will introduce a measure to better define the character of offences of this nature?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT, in reply, said, that in connection with this subject several very difficult questions arose which showed the necessity of some amendment of the law. He was in communication with the Railway Companies on the subject.