§ MR. SHERIDAN, who had put down a Question with regard to the case of Thomas Titley, said that, as the original form of the Question had been altered, he should put it as he had given Notice of it. The hon. Member was proceeding to read his Question, when—
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is now reading the Question as it stood originally when it was brought to the Table of the House. The original form of the Question contained matter of argument, and the words were struck out by my order.
§ MR. SHERIDANI beg to submit there is no argument in the Question.
§ MR. SPEAKERIn my opinion there was matter of argument in the Question, and it was struck out accordingly.
§ MR. SHERIDANThe words omitted merely refer to evidence given by the police on the trial. ["Order!"]
§ MR. SPEAKERI am bound to inform the hon. Member that a Question in the form in which this particular Question was handed in at the Table was irregular and cannot be put.
§ MR. SHERIDANHow are we to understand that Questions are irregular if evidence given on the trial is held to be irregular? ["Order!"] I will conclude with a Motion. If I find it impossible to put a direct Question I shall raise the point.
§ MR. SPEAKERIf the hon. Member insists upon setting the Rules of the House aside I hardly know what course I shall feel bound to take.
§ MR. SHERIDANI said I shall conclude with a Motion.
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONI have to ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether the hon. Member having given Notice to call attention to this subject, he is now in Order in the course he proposes to take; and whether, having taken objection to your ruling, the proper course would not be for him to give Notice of the point on which he impugns it?
§ MR. SHERIDANAfter what has fallen from you, Sir, and the noble Marquess, I shall put the Question in the form in which it now stands on the Paper; but I do so under protest. I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in reference to the ease of Thomas Titley, Chemist, now a prisoner under sentence of eighteen months' imprisonment, certain memorials have been presented to him, setting out further circumstances connected with the case, together with a memorial from a large number of respectable persons residing in the immediate neighbourhood of the prisoner's shop, giving an excellent character to the prisoner; and, whether, considering that the prisoner has been practically imprisoned since December last, he will diminish the remainder of the term for which the prisoner is sentenced?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTSir, it would be very improper on my part to give any explanation to the House with regard to the matter, dealing with a sentence in futuro All lean say is that I shall carefully consider the Memorials which have been laid before me, and I will consult with the Judge who tried the case.