§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)asked the Secretary of State for 374 the Home "Department, Whether his attention has been called to a case heard by Mr. Bridge at Bow Street Police Court, on Friday, in which Miss Rosa Parton charged Police Constable James Butler, a warrant officer of the Clerkenwell Police Court, with an assault upon her; whether Miss Parton stated, that on the 16th June, whilst attending at the Clerkenwell Police Court as a prosecutrix, Constable Butler
Struck her three sharp blows on the breast, from the violence of which she almost fainted;whether Mr. H. G. Sworn, M.R.C.S., of 16, Albion Road, Holloway, stated that he—Examined Miss Parton, and found on her breast a large bruise, three inches by six inches, badly swollen; and that a mere push would not have produced what he saw; it must have been a blow;whether Miss S. C. Parton, the complainant's sister, stated, that on the day of the assault she told the magistrate, Mr. Barstow, when they got into the Court, that her sister had been assaulted by the constable at the door, and that—Mr. Barstow was very rude to her; told her not to tell lies; that he didn't believe a word she said; and that they had all been together in a pot-house drinking;whether, although complaint of the assault was made on the 16th Juno to the Inspector of Police, Constable Butler was allowed, after three days' interval, to resume his duties at the Clerkenwell Police Court; whether the Commissioners of Police suggested to Mr. Barstow that it might be well to remove Constable Butler from the Clerkenwell Police Court; whether Mr. Barstow declined to assent to that being done; what course the Home Secretary now proposes to take with reference to the conduct of Constable Butler; and, whether he will ask the Lord Chancellor to inquire into the truth of Miss S. C. Parton's complaint again Mr. Barstow?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)I have obtained a Report and a copy of the evidence from Mr. Bridge, before whom Miss Parton's case against the constable was tried. It appears from the Report that she did state the constable hit her three blows quick on the chest backhanded; but not that she nearly fainted from their violence. The doctor made the statement contained in 375 the Question. The constable did not make his defence, as the charge was withdrawn by the complainant in consideration of his good character and long service, and because she was unwilling that he should lose by conviction the advantages he had thus gained. She thought, also, that the strong words used by the magistrate with reference to the duty of constables at all times to avoid being rough or violent would prevent the occurrence of any violence in the future. The constable, also, through his counsel, expressed his profound regret, and stated that he was quite unconscious of having caused any injuries. Under these circumstances, I propose to inquire further into the constable's antecedents before deciding what further action should be taken with regard to him. The Commissioner of Police did not suggest to Mr. Barstow that it might be well to remove the constable from the Court. I have also obtained a Report from Mr. Barstow. He denies saying to the lady that she told lies, or using rude expressions of any kind. He did say that the attractions of the public-house over the way were the common cause of parties failing to attend when called. He also said that he did not believe her when she said that she had been all the time in the waiting-room. I regret that the magistrate should have made use of these expressions, and I think that the facts seem sufficiently ascertained by the inquiry already made.