HC Deb 30 April 1888 vol 325 cc903-4
MR. J. ROWLANDS (Finsbury, E.)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he will be prepared to grant an inquiry into the conduct of the Assistant Judge of the Middlesex Sessions in the case of Charles Moore, if he is placed in possession of evidence of the accuracy of the statements in The Pall Mall Gazette of the 24th?

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

No, Sir; I am not prepared to grant an inquiry into the conduct of the Assistant Judge.

MR. J. ROWLANDS

If I supply the evidence of one of the Justices present, to the effect that the decision was settled after two votes, the first being in favour of the prisoner, and the second against him, will he cause inquiry to be made?

MR. MATTHEWS

I think it would be a very evil example if any Public Department were, on the statement of one of the gentlemen present, to inquire into what took place at a confidential discussion of magistrates when settling their decision. Such an inquiry could not possibly be satisfactory, or lead to any good results.