§ MR. H. T. DAVENPORTasked the Secretary of State for the Home Depart- 1330 ment, Whether he has had his attention called to the case of Francis Redfern, who was on the 16th of this month, at Uttoxeter, committed to prison for one month with hard labour for cruelty to a pony; and, whether he will take any steps in the matter?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT, in reply, said, that this case had been brought to his notice, and that he had received a Report from the magistrates. On consideration, he did not see his way to interfere in the matter.
§ MR. CRAIGasked whether the prisoner's father was not an inmate of a lunatic asylum; and whether it was not feared that the sentence would be attended with serious consequences to the prisoner; and if, in view of that fact, the right hon. and learned Gentleman would not consider whether he could not remit the labour part of the sentence?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTsaid, he must respectfully beg to enter a protest against being called upon in such cases to enter into details in that House. With regard to what the hon. Member had said, he might say that no application had been made to him on the ground of the prisoner's state of health. Were such an application made, he should, of course, consider it.