§ MR. MITCHELL HENRYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, What progress has been made in the investigation of the case of William Habron, a young Irishman, convicted in August 1876, of the murder of a policeman at Whalley Range, near Manchester, but now alleged to be innocent; whether he has read a letter which appeared on the subject in "The Times" on the 12th instant; and, whether pending the investigation the convict has been relieved from the severities of penal discipline?
MR. ASSHETON CROSSAs the House will remember, I stated some time ago that when the man Habron was convicted, I came to the conclusion, which the learned Judge who tried the case agreed with, that the evidence tended to show that he was certainly not the person who fired the shot, and upon that ground the sentence was respited. The circumstantial evidence placed before the jury, and certain expressions used by the man himself, led them to the conclusion that he was implicated in the murder, and therefore he underwent sentence, under their verdict. When the confession was made by Peace, before his execution, I felt, of course, that it was quite necessary to consider very carefully the whole circumstances of the case again; and I stated to the House that, owing to that confession, it would receive the most anxious consideration of the Secretary of State as to how far the sentence should be allowed to stand. 1036 At the same time, I said that a confession so made was one which would undoubtedly require the most rigid scrutiny which could be applied to it. I, of course, have had every assistance from the learned Judge who tried the case; and I thought it only right to lay the whole matter before the Law Officers of the Crown in concert with one of the ablest Queen's Counsel at the Bar. The result to which I certainly myself have come is that the statement made by the man Peace has been so entirely corroborated in many important points, that I shall feel it my duty to recommend the Crown to grant a free pardon to William Habron. It will be satisfactory to the House to know—and it is a very great satisfaction to myself—that in that conclusion I have the entire concurrence of the learned Judge who tried the case, and of the Law Officers of the Crown. The House very well knows that if persons, however unfortunately, have been convicted, it has never been the practice in this country to make compensation to persons who have so suffered; but still I hope that I may be allowed to state that I think I see my way to making certain arrangements, by which care will be taken that the future of this most unfortunate and most unhappy man will be attended to.
§ MR. MITCHELL HENRYMr. Speaker, in consequence of the answer of the right hon. Gentleman, I beg to say that I shall, on Monday next, ask him publicly what compensation he will recommend the Government to make to this unhappy victim of the fallibility of the law.