§ MR. P. A. TAYLORasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to the case of Margaret Carroll, who, on the 13th instant, was committed to prison for fourteen days by the judge of Grantham County Court for contempt of court because, as is alleged, she did not give an intelligible explanation of a fact of which, it was subsequently proved, that she could have had no knowledge; whether the judge is correctly reported to have said, in answer to a remonstrance—"I will read you people a lesson; you are not to come here and tell those abominable lies;" and, whether he will take any steps in the matter?
MR. ASSHETON CROSSSir, the attention of the Lord Chancellor had been called to this matter before the hon. Member's Notice appeared on the Paper. His Lordship put himself into communication with the Judge in question, and has received his explanation of the matter. There can be no doubt, I think, that the Judge exceeded his authority; but the Lord Chancellor has at this moment the whole matter under his consideration, and when I hear what he has decided, I will communicate the information to the House.