HC Deb 11 August 1876 vol 231 c1071
MR. WHALLEY

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether there is any and what objection to return to Elizabeth Jury, a daughter of George Orton, certain oil paintings, viz., the portraits of her father and mother, which were lent by her for the use of the Court in the late Trial at Bar of the Tichborne Claimant, and as to which repeated applications had been made in vain to all the authorities concerned in the matter? He asked further, Whether the right hon. Gentleman still retains the opinion that the affidavits of this person, which prove unquestionably that there have been a miscarriage of justice, are not entitled to consideration?

MR. ASSHETON CROSS,

in reply, said, he believed the portraits were taken possession of by the officer of the Court of Queen's Bench during the trial of the case of "The Queen v. Castro," and so far as he knew they were in the possession of that officer. He believed that neither the Treasury Solicitor, who had no objection to the return of the portraits, nor the Home Secretary, had any control over them. With regard to the last part of the Question, he could not add anything to the answer he had formerly given.