§ MR. ANDERSON (Elgin and Nairn)asked Mr. Attorney General, Whether, having regard to the recent miscarriage of justice in Northumberland, the Government will give facilities for the consideration of the Court of Criminal Appeal Bill next Session?
THE SOLICITOR GENERAL (Sir EDWARD CLARKE)(who replied) (Plymouth)said, it was impossible for him to answer the Question.
§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, in view of the terrible miscarriage of justice in the case of the men Brannaghan and Murphy, he will undertake to introduce, next Session, a Government measure for the constitution of a Court of Appeal for all criminal cases? The hon. Member further asked, if a sum of money was to be granted to these men, from what source it would be provided; and whether the right hon. Gentleman would lay before the House a Resolution by which it would be able to express its sympathy with the men for the atrocious wrong to which they had been subjected?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster), in reply, said, the money would be provided by a Vote of the House; but he could not undertake that a measure constituting a Court of Appeal would be introduced next Session.
§ MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)asked, whether, instead of giving a lump sum to the men Brannaghan and Murphy, it would not be much kinder and better to give an annuity in the way of compensation?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHreplied that the Home Secretary had already stated that he would confer with his hon. and learned Friend (Mr. Milvain) as to the best method of securing the money for the benefit of the men.
§ MR. CONYBEAREgave Notice that when the Vote came before the House he would move, as an Amendment, that an annuity of £50 be given to each of these men, and that also a Vote of sympathy with them be passed by the House.