§ MR. H. B. SHERIDANasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been drawn to a case in which Mr. Isaac Spooner, a stipendiary magistrate at Brierley Hill, near Dudley, is alleged to have sent a married woman named Phœbe Newton, age 48, to gaol for six weeks, for having, as was stated, struck a policeman on the arm with her hand; and, whether it is true that the magistrate refused to hear the witnesses for the defence?
MR. ASSHETON CROSSin reply, said, the magistrate had written to call his attention to this case, and his letter bore out the statement in the Question that the woman did bring forward witnesses who were not called, and sentence was passed. He had thought it his duty, under all the circumstances, to release the woman at once, as she could hardly be considered to have had a fair trial. On behalf of the magistrate, he was bound to say that his statement was that he did not hear the application to produce witnesses; but upon that matter he was in communication with the magistrate, and therefore could say nothing more.