§
MR. CALLAN moved,
That an humble Address he presented to Her Majesty, that She will be graciously pleased to give directions that there be laid before this House, Copies of any Memorial presented by or on behalf of the Convict 'Theodoridi:'
Of any Correspondence with respect to 'Theodoridi,' or Memorandum of any representations made on behalf of the Convict:
And, of usual form, printed or lithographed, sent to the Judge who tried any convict on whose behalf any memorial may have been presented or representation made for his opinion.
§ In making the Motion, he might say that it was as much for the convenience of the right hon. Gentleman the Home Secretary as for his own that he moved for these Returns.
§
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, that She will be graciously pleased to give directions that there be laid before this House, Copies of any Memorial presented by or on behalf of the Convict 'Theodoridi:'
Of any Correspondence with respect to 'Theodoridi,' or Memorandum of any representations made on behalf of the Convict:
And, of usual form, printed or lithographed, sent to the Judge who tried any convict on whoso behalf any memorial may have been presented or representation made for his opinion."—(Mr. Callan.)
§ MR. CALLANsaid, that he could see no objection to the information for which he had asked being furnished; as it was necessary for the House to know the facts of the matter fully before it could come to any decision on the subject. It was his intention to bring the subject before the House at no very distant date.
MR. ASSHETON CROSSsaid, that he had already stated to the hon. Member privately, as he would now state to the House, that he had practically no Memorials or Papers which he could lay before the House. There had been no Papers or Memorials of any sort or kind which were suitable for laying before the House. He had already stated all the circumstances in connection with this case. As he had said, there was a difference between the case of Theodoridi and of the man who was convicted with him; and the difference was this—that in the case of Theodoridi the prosecutrix recommended him to mercy. In releasing this man, he did it only on condition that he should leave the country for good; and on condition that if the annoyance of which he had been guilty was repeated, he should again be brought before the Court—it was solely upon condition of his leaving the country and ceasing the annoyance, that Theodoridi was released at the request of the Turkish Ambassador. He thought that there had been some misapprehension with regard to this case, and that some of the lady's friends had thought that the fact of Theodoridi's being released had something to do with her. So far as the lady was concerned, however, there ought not to be the slighest idea entertained that the release of the convict had anything to do with her. From some letters having been mentioned in an earlier part of the case, he had some idea that they had better be given up, or they might be produced at some future time. But on his demanding them, as a condition of Theodoridi's release, he was assured that there were no such letters in existence. He had thought it right to ask the Treasury Solicitor whether there wore any letters in the custody of Theodoridi which it might be desirable to get. The Treasury Solicitor said he did not think that Theodoridi had any letters; and unless he had had that assurance he should 2032 never have assented to his release. He wished to make it clear to the lady's friends, however, that he did not attach any importance to those letters; but only desired that anything in the custody of the convict might be given up, in order to prevent any annoyance at a future period. Nothing was further from his intention than to give any pain to the lady or her friends, or to convey the slighest imputation upon her.
§ MR. MONKasked, whether he understood the right hon. Gentleman the Home Secretary to state that he had no Papers which he could lay upon the Table of the House? There was a strong feeling out-of-doors, originating with the Press, against this man Theodoridi being released, while his companion in crime, who was, perhaps, less guilty than he was, had been retained in prison. If the Turkish Ambassador probably not only called upon the right hon. Gentleman, but had communications with him, he thought that they should be laid upon the Table of the House; for, although Theodoridi was a stranger to this country, and of a different religion to the English people, that was not sufficient reason for his release. He should like to have some further information upon this matter—more particularly as to his right hon. Friend's reason for refusing to place upon the Table of the House such Papers as he had received upon the matter.
MR. ASSHETON CROSSsaid, that he had now stated to the House nothing but what he had said on previous occasions when questions were put to him with regard to this matter. There were no documents in relation to this convict which he should be justified in laying before the House. The only Papers relating to it were some letters which were private. The distinction between the case of Theodoridi and his fellow-convict was, that the lady who prosecuted in his case recommended him to mercy. The condition of his release was, as he had stated, that he should leave the country and never come back again, and should cease any annoyance; whereas no such assurance had been given by the other man.
§ Motion, by leave, withdrawn.
§ House adjourned at a quarter after Two o'clock.