HC Deb 29 June 1880 vol 253 cc1120-1
MR. PASSMORE EDWARDS

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the case of Catherine Connoly, who, on Saturday last was sentenced to twenty-one days imprisonment with hard labour, without the option of a fine, for conveying to her husband, now in the House of Detention, a quarter of an ounce of tobacco in a pastry turnover intended for his dinner; and, whether he intends to interfere with the sentence?

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

Sir, I am not at all surprised at the attention which this sentence has created, and I have taken every means in my power to communicate with the magistrate who passed it. I wrote to him last night; but, getting no answer this morning, I directed my Private Secretary to go to the Court and communicate with him. Unfortunately, however, the magistrate is not sitting to-day; and, therefore, I have had no personal communication with him, although I hope to have it in the course of the day. As to the sentence, I have ascertained, however, certain circumstances which I will mention to the House. First of all, I should say that this conviction was under the Prisons Act of 1865, which certainly does appear in this particular, no doubt, to be a very severe Act; for it says that every person who, contrary to the regulations of the prison, brings, or attempts by any means whatever to introduce, any spirituous or fermented liquor, or tobacco, into any prison, shall, on conviction, be sentenced to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding six months, or be liable to a penalty not exceeding £20. It was under that provision that the woman was brought up. I am also informed that the newspaper reports were in many respects inaccurate. They stated that the woman was sentenced to hard labour, whereas the Statute does not authorize hard labour. It was also stated that the child was left to find its way home. That is inaccurate. The magistrate directed the police to take care of the child and to take it home. That is all the information concerning the case which I have at present, and I cannot undertake to say what I will do with the sentence until I have had an opportunity of communicating with the sitting magistrate. I can assure the House that no time will be lost in dealing with the case, and doing justice as far as possible.