COLONEL SYKESsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether it has come to his knowledge that, at the St. Columb Petty Sessions, on the 27th of February last, John Rowe, of St. Dennis, an old man, was prosecuted by the Inland Revenue for being found with a gun and dog whilst crossing the Garrigan Estate in November, 1865, and fined £5 and sent to gaol for non-payment, the same John Rowe having been fined in November last for the same offence, as a trespasser, 40s. and 18s. 6d. expenses; and, whether inquiry will be made with a view to the mitigation of the sentence?
§ MR. CHILDERSSir, a certain William (not John) Rowe was prosecuted for having been found with a gun and dog in pursuit of game without a licence, and convicted in the mitigated penalty of £5. Immediately after the conviction he petitioned the Board of Inland Revenue, offering £3 2s. 6d. in satisfaction of the penalty, which offer the Board at once accepted, and the amount was duly paid. He was never at any time under arrest on account of this charge, no person being ever personally arrested except under a body warrant, which requires express directions from the Board of Inland Revenue before it can be put in force. In this instance such a warrant was not issued, the case being otherwise disposed of by the acceptance of Rowe's offer. As regards the conviction for trespass, that is a matter 1119 which in no way concerns the Board of Inland Revenue. The functions of that Board are simply to see that the public revenue is not defrauded; they take no cognizance of offences against the rights of property, which was the ground of the other prosecution.