§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is true that Albert Charles Griffin, who was sentenced to eight years' penal servitude for a rape upon a child eight years of age by Baron Bramwell at the Central Criminal Court, has been released after having undergone only six months' imprisonment; and, if so, whether this commutation of the sentence was founded upon facts which have transpired subsequent to the trial, or upon any recommendation from the Judge who pronounced the sentence?
MR. BRUCEreplied that after the trial a Memorial, with some fresh evidence, was submitted by him to the consideration of the Judge, who, in consequence, suggested that fresh inquiries should be made through the police. Such inquiries were made; and the learned Judge, on the result being submitted to him, informed him (Mr. Bruce) that at the trial the evidence given by the child had been in some respects contradictory, and the fresh evidence showed her to be an artful little girl; and, moreover, that it had not been without a doubt that he had sentenced the prisoner, and if he had been on the jury he would have given him the benefit of the doubt. Under these circumstances, no 455 other course could have been pursued than the one he had adopted.