§ MR. T. BLAKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, What action he has taken with reference to the case of an old man, over 70 years of age, named William Jones, who is now undergoing a sentence of two months' imprisonment in Gloucester Gaol on a charge of trespass and setting traps to catch birds in the Forest of Dean, and to whose conviction, by the Coleford Bench of Magistrates, his attention was specially directed on Monday morning last?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)Yes, Sir; I have considered this case, and obtained a Report from the Justices upon it. It appears that this prisoner was tried and found guilty on two separate charges—(1) of setting traps to catch wood-pigeons on the 9th of January; (2) of trespassing in search of game with a gun on the 22nd of January. He had been cautioned several times previously for similar acts. Under the circumstances, I do not feel justified in advising any interference with the sentence.