§ MR. E. LEES (Oldham)I beg to ask the Attorney General whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. Thomas Harrison, of Hollinwood, Oldham, who is now lying in Strange ways Prison, Manchester, for contempt of Court; whether ho is aware that Mr. Harrison has never committed any offence except in connection with the publication of a pamphlet 162 entitled The Coal Trade and Railway Rates, reflecting upon the action, of a Railway Company and certain colliery proprietors; whether the order for a writ of attachment against Mr. Harrison was made in Chambers instead of in open Court, and whether it is the law that a man may be committed for contempt otherwise than by an order made in open Court; whether Mr. Harrison is now detained in prison for a contempt for which he has already humbly apologised to the Court; and whether this is in accordance with usual practice?
SIR R. WEBSTERI must ask the hon. Gentleman to be good enough to postpone the question. I have had no-opportunity of communicating with the authorities upon the subject.