§ MR. CALLANasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Under 630 what circumstances, and after what procedure, convicts sentenced to seven years' penal servitude, and "dealt with in the ordinary course by the authorities having the supervision of the criminal law in this country" have any portion of their sentences remitted; whether, in the "ordinary course," convicts sentenced to seven years' penal servitude are liberated at the expiration of eighteen months; whether, inasmuch as Constantine Theodoridi and Paulo Gorlero were, in the month of September 1877, convicted of having conspired together to extort money by threats from a lady under circumstances characterised by Mr. Newton, the committing magistrate, as "one of the most wicked cases he had ever heard of," and were sentenced to seven years' penal servitude by Mr. Justice Hawkins, he would state to the House whether Theodoridi has been liberated; and, if so, under what representations, and by whom made; whether Paulo Gorlero is still in prison; if so, what were the special grounds upon which Theodoridi has been liberated; and, whether Mr. Justice Hawkins, who tried the case, was called upon to make a report; and, if so, did the learned judge recommend the remission of the sentence?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, every case must depend upon its own circumstances—upon the health of the prisoner, or the recommendation of the Judge, or the action of the prosecutor. In this case, Theodoridi and Gorlero were convicted and sentenced, as stated in the Question. There was no dispute as to the facts. Theodoridi was not pardoned in any way, but was released on licence last September. The Turkish Ambassador made an informal application privately to him (Mr. Assheton Cross) that the man might be released, on an undertaking being given that he should leave the country and not return again. The ground of his release was that there certainly seemed to be a considerable distinction between the two cases of Theodoridi and Gorlero, and that the lady concerned in the case, to whom great injury was done, had strongly recommended Theodoridi to mercy. There were certain letters in the man's possession which it was necessary should be given up, and their surrender was part of the condition on which he was released. The 631 undertaking was also given that he would leave the country and not return to it. A precisely similar private application was made by the Italian Ambassador on behalf of Gorlero; but he (Mr. Assheton Cross) could not comply with it, because it did not warrant the same consideration; and, in that case, there was no recommendation on the part of the prosecutrix, who was so nearly concerned in the matter. There was no Correspondence of any official nature on the subject in the Home Office.