§ MR. SEALE-HAYNE (Devon, Ashburton)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the report in The Devon Evening Express, of the 10th instant, of the proceedings of the Exeter Bench of Magistrates, who sentenced Henry Gothard, a member of the 1st Volunteer Battalion Devon Regiment, to one month's imprisonment with hard labour, without the option of a fine, for firing a rifle, on November 5, from an upper window of his residence into a court below; whether he had received a Memorial signed by over 2,500 inhabitants of Exeter, praying for the remission of a portion of the sentence; and, whether he will advise Her Majesty to comply with the prayer of this Memorial?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)Yes, Sir; my attention has been called to the case, and I have received the Memorial in question. I have been in communication with the Justices, and am informed by them that Gothard, on the 15th, gave notice of appeal, and he has accordingly been released upon the usual recognizances. Under these circumstances it would not be proper for me to express any opinion upon the case.