§ MR. ANDERSON (Elgin and Nairn)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been drawn to the conviction of George Taylor, a bricklayer, for poaching in Her Majesty's preserves and killing two pheasants, for which offence he was awarded by the Windsor magistrates three months' imprisonment with hard labour, and at the expiration of the time ordered to find sureties not to repeat the offence for 12 months; whether the Government will direct this extreme punishment to be partially remitted; and, if not, will the Government state what were the circumstances, beyond one previous conviction for trespass in pursuit of game, which called for so severe a punishment?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)I have received a Report from the Clerk to the Justices on this case. The magistrates considered it a serious case of poaching armed at night. They also observed that the prisoner had committed three other offences—namely, killing game on Sunday, killing game without a certificate, and having a gun without a licence. The requirement as to finding sureties seems to be imperative under the Statute. Should the prisoner be unable to find sureties at the expiration of his sentence, I will then consider whether the circumstances of the case justify me in advising any remission.