§ MR. HENRY H. FOWLER (Wolverhampton, E.)asked Mr. Attorney-General, Whether it is correct that Mr. Justice Mathew at the last Gloucester Assizes, on the trial of the Rev. Walter Davies, stated that the prosecution which had been instituted by the Director of Public Prosecutions was "a deplorable and reckless one" that "ought never to have been undertaken," and that "the defendant left the dock without a shadow of imputation upon his character"; whether this prosecution was instituted by the direction, or with the approval, of the Attorney General, or of the Secretary of State for the Home Department; what is the amount of the costs which have been paid, or are payable, out of public funds on account of this prosecution; and, whether any grant had been made to the Defendant towards the costs of his defence?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir RICHARD WEBSTER) (Isle of Wight)The statements attributed to the learned Judge in the Question of the right hon. Gentleman are substantially correct. The prosecution was not instituted by the direction or with the approval of the Attorney General, or of the Secretary of 536 State for the Home Department. I feel, however, that it is right to add that, having carefully looked through the information which was before the Director of Public Prosecutions at the time of the institution of the prosecution, he was, in my opinion, justified in the steps which he took, and he acted throughout upon the opinion of counsel of the highest experience. The amount of costs payable out of the public funds is £50 18s. 4d. So far as I am aware, no grant has been made to the defendant towards the costs of his defence. I shall be happy to show the right hon. Gentleman all the information which I possess respecting this case.