§ MR. T. E. ELLIS (Merionethshire)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to a letter in The Liverpool Courier of 8th August, from the Rev. W. Venables Williams, Vicar of Llandrillo, Denbighshire, in which he attempts to connect the Nonconformists of his parish with the burning of St. Paul's Church, Colwyn Bay, and states that he has evidence in his possession which leaves no doubt as to the identity of the individual who set fire to the church, and that stores of lime and gas tar were carted into a neighbouring farmhouse in order to make solid balls for maiming the police; whether the inhabitants of the parish have petitioned the Home Office to instruct the Public Prosecutor to take action in the matter, so that these serious charges may be examined; and, whether any steps will be taken to grant their request?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)No, Sir; I have not seen the letter in question; but I have received a Petition from certain tithepayers and Nonconformists in the parish asking me to instruct the Public Prosecutor to institute proceedings for the purpose of compelling the rev. gentleman to reveal all the evidence in his possession. There are no means by which I or anyone else can do this. I can only say that I hope that if the rev. gentleman, or any other person, has in his possession any evidence with reference to any alleged crime, he will lose no time in communicating all particulars to the proper authorities.