§ MR. SHIRLEY (Yorkshire, W.R., Doncaster)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the case of Abigail Bird, who, on Saturday 10th April, was sentenced by the Dartford Petty Sessional Bench to a month's hard labour, on a charge of stealing hurdle-wood from a plantation, into which the evidence was that she had not gone; and, if so, whether he is satisfied that justice was done to the woman?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. CHILDERS) (Edinburgh, S.)Yes, Sir; my attention was called to this case, and I called for a Report from the Justices. I think that the evidence shows that this gipsy was undoubtedly acting in concert with a man who escaped, and that they were guilty of stealing the wood. I am not prepared to advise any interference with the sentence, although possibly a lighter one might have been sufficient. But it was unanimously adopted by a strong Bench.