§ MR. CHARLES LEWISasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If he is aware whether the statement is true that the valuable jewel case belonging to a lady of rank, stolen at a Railway station some time since, has been recovered by means of a large pecuniary payment; whether the assistance of the Metropolitan Police was used in effecting such recovery; whether his attention has been called to the various advertisements and notices, issued in the name of the owner's husband, offering large pecuniary inducements for the return of the property; and, whether, in his opinion, such notices are not contrary to Law, as containing offers to compromise a felony?
MR. ASSHETON CROSSSir, with regard to the first and second Questions of my hon. Friend, I would state that all that the police know about the matter is, that on the day of the robbery information was sent to them from the railway station to Scotland Yard; that Lord Dudley was seen the same night, and the servant who had charge of the jewel box the next day. No further communication has taken place between Lord Dudley and the police upon the question. The usual advertisement in the ordinary form was issued by the police. "Whether Lord Dudley's jewels have been found I am not at the present moment in the least aware; but if they have the police have not assisted in their recovery, and have no information whatever upon the subject. My attention has been called to certain advertisements that have been issued, and I understand that there is some dispute as to the facts relating to these advertisements. I hope the House will think that I am right in declining to express any opinion as to what the law is upon the subject, especially since it is a matter which I understand is likely to be brought before a Court of Law, or to apply that law to a state of facts about which I really know nothing at all, and have no official means of obtaining knowledge.