§ DR. CLARK (Caithness)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether ex-Police Sergeant Eckett has been certified as incapacitated for duty in consequence of his spine having been injured while defending another policeman from maltreatment by roughs; and, whether the Police Commissioners recommended Eckett for full pension as injured on duty; and, it so, on what grounds Eckett is refused the pension recommended by the Commissioners of Police?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.), in reply, said, the Chief Surgeon of the Metropolitan Police had certified, and the Chief Commissioner had recommended, ex-Police Sergeant Eckett for full pension because he was injured while on duty; but the spinal disease from which Eckett was suffering was first noticed in August, 1886, and was ascribed to violence received nearly 11 years ago, when he was struck between the shoulders with two bricks and kicked on the leg. The Superintendent stated that Eckett did not go on sick leave, and he (Mr. Matthews) could not find that he complained of any injury at the time; and, under these circumstances, he did not consider he was justified in acting on the certificate of the surgeon or the recommendation of the Chief Commissioner.