§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been drawn to a sentence at Mumford Potty Sessions, passed on Susan Macrow Cock, a girl aged 12 years, of 10 days' imprisonment in Norwich Gaol, and five years imprisonment in a reformatory, for stealing a piece of meat value 10d.; whether this was a first offence; and, whether, under the circumstances, he can advise any mitigation of the sentence?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)I have obtained a Report from the magistrates on this case. The facts are as stated. It was a first offence; but the girl was watched and detected in consequence of meat having being missed on previous occasions when she had visited the shop. I think it is a proper case for a reformatory, as the home influences on this girl were not good; and I am not prepared at present to advise any remission of the sentence.