§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to the case of Sergeant Murphy, of the Metropolitan Police, stationed at Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport, and who (as reported in The Western Daily Mercury of the 21st May, by the correspondent of that paper) has been degraded by the Chief Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police for supposed drunkenness, the fact being that Sergeant Murphy was at the time suffering from illness, and was ordered to be removed to the Royal Naval Hospital by one of the Dockyard doctors; and whether he will inquire into the case; and, if the facts are as reported, direct the Chief Commissioner to reinstate Sergeant Murphy?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)I am informed by the Chief Commissioner that this man was reported drunk on the 12th of May, and was accordingly suspended. On the 14th he was re- 1230 duced. It was after this that, probably from the effects of drink, he became so excited that he had to be removed to the hospital. I must decline to interfere with the discretion of the Commissioner in awarding punishments in such cases.