HC Deb 24 August 1881 vol 265 c817
BARON HENRY DE WORMS

said, he wished to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department a Question of which he had given the right hon. and learned Gentleman private Notice —namely, Whether his attention has been called to the fact that Dr. Messel, a gentleman well known in London and. Woolwich, where he had resided many years, was arrested on a totally futile and absurd charge of pocket-picking, and, although he gave a reference to a gentleman of high position, was shut up in a police cell with several persons of the lowest character, some of whom were intoxicated; and, if the right hon. and learned Gentleman's attention has been called to the case, whether it does not call for an immediate and searching inquiry, with the view of preventing the infliction of similar indignities upon innocent persons in future?

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

, in reply, said, he had no knowledge of the facts of the case; but he would cause inquiry to be made into it.