§ MR. W. LOWTHERasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether the statement, as given in "the Times" of 2nd April is correct, that the Police Magistrate at Marlborough Street, "on hearing the answer of Ann Murray (accused of stealing the Earl of Granville's towels) decided him to discharge the prisoner, although he was satisfied she was a thief?"
MR. BRUCEI am glad to find that the hon. Gentleman opposite takes an interest in the property of my noble Colleague. I believe, Sir, the facts of the case are these:—The woman was charged with stealing a napkin, which was the property of my noble Friend, Earl Granville. By the kindness of the noble Lord, she had been allowed to take broken meat from his house, and in doing so she tied it in a napkin, which she afterwards attempted to pawn. The magistrate thought the larcenous intention was not legally made out. At the same time he was of opinion that she was not free from blame, and might possibly have been considered on a different charge.