§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is the fact that a Mrs. Charles told the Paddington Guardians, on Wednesday last, that she was sent seven years ago to a lunatic asylum and retained there until the other day, although she was perfectly sane; whether the statement is true; by whom she was thus immured; and, whether any and what steps can be taken to punish the persons who placed her in the asylum, to compensate her for the injury done to her, and to prevent such occurrences for the future?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. STUART-WORTLEY)(who replied) said (Sheffield, Hallam)The Question of the hon. Member appears to be founded on a misconception of the nature of the statement made by Mrs. Charles to her fellow guardians. That lady did not state that she had herself been in a lunatic asylum. Her statement referred to a female of whose case she was giving particulars. The Lunacy Commissioners inform me that it is impossible to make any inquiry or answer any question unless they are supplied with the name of the person and the approximate date of her admission to an asylum. The name of the asylum should also, if possible, be given. I have directed a letter to be written to the Paddington Board of Guardians with a view of eliciting this information.