§ MR. M'CARTAN (Down, S.)asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether his attention has been called to a letter, signed "William Young," published in The Echo, of the 10th instant, complaining of the treatment given to Mrs. Walton, of Appleby, for having refused to have her child vaccinated; whether Mrs. Walton was 931 arrested under warrant on the 10th, and sent to Carlisle Gaol for 14 days; whether, as stated in the letter, Mrs. Walton was, when in gaol, subjected to the same treatment as felons; whether her rings (except her wedding ring) were taken from her fingers, herself stripped naked and put into a bath, and informed—
That she must wear the prison garb, and be locked in a solitary cell, and that no friends would be allowed to visit her;whether she asked for a cup of tea, and was told that nothing hut bread and water would be allowed her; whether she declared that, owing to her poverty, she was wholly unable to pay the alternative fine; whether some friends, on hearing of the treatment given to her, paid the fine under protest, and thus procured her release from gaol; and, whether he will take stops to prevent mothers, who are opposed to vaccination, from being exposed to such treatment in the future?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)Yes, Sir; I have seen the letter in question. I am informed by the Governor of the prison that Mrs. Walton was treated in the way prescribed by the Statutes and Prison Rules, and there was nothing exceptional in her treatment. She was searched by a female officer, the searching of prisoners being enjoined by Statute. She was not put in a bath. Her rings were taken from her, except the wedding ring. She was told she would have the ordinary diet of her class. She did not plead poverty, and she had a good dress on, three rings, a gold watch, and a cameo brooch. She was in prison for less than two hours, and was under no treatment further than being locked up in the reception cell. Every facility was given her to send for and see the friend who, she said, had her cheque book, and who afterwards paid the fine for her by cheque.