§ MR. ADDISON (Ashton-under-Lyne)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the remark of Mr. Justice Stephen, in the case of "Boss v. Savilie," that on the finding of the jury there was a case fit for the Public Prosecutor, to charge Savilie with attempting to extort money; whether, in reference to the same person, Mr. Justice Manisty (in the course of a trial last week) characterized the act of putting the Criminal Law in motion on an unfounded charge, for the purpose of extorting money, as "diabolical," and whether the jury found that Savilie had so acted; and, whether, having regard to the observations of these learned Judges, and to the danger to the public of the abuse of the Criminal Law, he will direct the Public Prosecutor to take proceedings in the matter?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)I have been furnished with a report of the two actions (" Bayfus v. Jonas et al." and "Boss v. Palmer and Savilie "). In view of the observations which were made by the learned Judges, Mr. Justice Manisty and Mr. Justice Stephen, in the course of the trials, I have thought it right to communicate with the Director of Public Prosecutions.