§ MR. MACFARLANEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If he can now inform the House if he intends to follow the precedents established in the cases of Johnson, Clowes, Habron, and others, and award substantial compensation to Charles Frost for having been twice wrongfully imprisoned, and also if he is prepared to compensate Edward Smith, who was wrongfully convicted at the same time and released 701 upon the same grounds; if the Sergeant Walsh upon whose evidence these men were convicted is the same officer who procured the conviction, about seven years ago, of a man named Sweeny, whose case, upon being investigated, resulted in his release after he had served four months of a sentence of eighteen; and, if Sergeant Walsh is still a member of the police force?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT, in reply, said, Frost had unfortunately fallen into the hands of advisers who had told him not to go to the Home Office, but to await Parliamentary proceedings, with the view of getting exorbitant compensation. If he abandoned that course, and came to him (the Home Secretary) he would be better advised. Sergeant Walsh was still a member of the police force, but had been degraded to the rank of sub-constable.