§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he is aware that the Justices at Stratford Petty Ses- 521 sions 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 in the matter?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.), in reply, said, the sentence passed on Charles Edwards was in excess of the statutory power, and was wholly void; and he had, therefore, been compelled reluctantly to order the boy's discharge.