HC Deb 12 April 1888 vol 324 cc1039-40
MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, at the Middlesex Sessions on Saturday last, Mr. Commissioner Kerr and a jury dismissed in unbroken succession half-a-dozen cases, and that Mr. Commissioner Kerr remarked that for some reason which he knew, but would not disclose, several cases had been improperly sent for trial; who was the magistrate who committed each of the defendants, whose names are F. Warren, J. Connor, P. Merritt, E. Blanchflower (49), E. Blanchflower (23), L. Groves, J. O'Connor, R. M'Arthur, and L. Luff; and, what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)

I am informed by the Judge that in five, not six, small cases tried before him on Saturday last the defendants were acquitted by the jury. The Judge seems to have been misreported; for he informs me that, although the jury acquitted, in his opinion the cases gene- rally were of such a nature that the magistrates were justified in sending them for trial. Under these circumstances, I see nothing in the matter to call for my interference.

MR. PICKERSGILL

Did all the cases come from the same magistrate, or from the same Police Court?

MR. MATTHEWS

I am not aware. I will inquire.

MR. PICKERSGILL

But that was part of my Question. I will repeat that part of it.