HC Deb 18 August 1887 vol 319 cc948-9
MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether the French lady arrested at Cowes for having had modelling clay in her trunk, mistaken for dynamite, has been discharged; how is it proposed to compensate her for the arrest and false imprisonment she endured; who is responsible for taking her into custody; whether, with a view to avoid incidents of this kind, detectives could be trained to distinguish dynamite from harmless substances; and, was there such a resemblance between the stuff seized in the trunk of this lady and any known explosive as to warrant her detention while scientific experiments were being made on the clay?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)

I see from the newspapers that the lady has been discharged; but until further inquiry is made I am unable to say whether it is a case for compensation. The Hampshire Constabulary are responsible for taking the lady into custody; and they acted on information received from Paris that a woman was to arrive at Cowes with a parcel of dynamite in her possession. To distinguish dynamite from harmless clayey substances requires the knowledge of an expert, which detectives generally cannot possess. I am unable to express any opinion as to the resemblance of the clay found in the lady's luggage to any explosive.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Will the right hon. Gentleman state what further inquiries he proposes to make? Can there be any question whether a lady who has been unjustly detained four days is or is not entitled to compensation?

MR. MATTHEWS

Of course, I wish to obtain further information from the police.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Is it not established, by the discharge of the lady, that she was innocent? Do the Government mean to say that a foreign lady who has arrived in this country, having been falsely arrested, they do not intend at once to entertain the question of compensation?

MR. MATTHEWS

As far as I can judge, there is no doubt at all that the lady was a harmless traveller; but the question of compensation depends upon whether the Police Authorities acted justifiably upon the information which they received.

MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)

wished to ask, what course would have been taken by the Foreign Office if this had occurred to one of our subjects in a foreign country?

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!