MR. LEWISasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention had been directed to the recent murder of Mr. Wincott, in South Street, Manchester Square, and to the investigation consequent thereon at the Marylebone Police Court on Wednesday, the 5th of February; and, if so, whether he intended to make any inquiry into the reasons which induced the presiding magistrate to sentence four of the men aiding 135 and abetting in the murder to the punishment of six weeks' and one month's imprisonment respectively? He understood that a coroner's inquest had been since held, and a verdict of wilful murder against all the men implicated had been returned.
§ SIR GEORGE GREYreplied, that he knew nothing of the case except through the public papers. He presumed that the magistrate before whom the examination took place did not conceive the evidence sufficient to justify him in committing more than one of the men on the charge of murder. He (Sir George Grey) had not called upon him for his reasons. The hon. Gentleman had adverted to the fact of a coroner's jury having inquired into the cause of Mr. Wincott's death, and he was not aware until informed by him that that jury had returned a verdict of wilful murder. Under those circumstances, as the persons implicated would be brought to trial, it was obviously improper on his part to say anything in that House which might prejudice the case.