§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he is aware that the Justices at Stratford Petty Sessions on Friday, July 13, are reported to have sentenced Charles Edwards, aged 10, to be sent to a reformatory school for six years; and, whether, inasmuch as the 29 & 30 Vict. c. 117, s. 14, limits the power of Justices in such cases to not more than five years, he will take any action the matter?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)Yes, Sir; it is a fact that the Justices sentenced this boy to a reformatory school for six years. The case has been noted; 42 and I shall take steps to insure that the statutory period of detention is not exceeded.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHasked whether, if the sentence was in excess of the jurisdiction of the magistrates, it did not fall to the ground?
§ MR. MATTHEWSsaid, that involved a point of law on which he would offer no opinion. He would consider whether the objection to the sentence was one which affected its validity.