§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the case of Walter Thompson, who on June 4 last was charged in custody before the Gravesend magistrates with being drunk and disorderly, and who, after evidence given by the police which raised grave doubt as to Thompson's sanity, was remanded in custody as an ordinary prisoner; whether he was raving and violent, and received severe injury whilst in the cells, and, after having been visited on June 5 by a magistrate, was removed to Banning Heath Lunatic Asylum, where death ensued on June 18; whether, under 48 & 49 Vict. c. 52, ss. 2 and 3, Thompson might on June 4 have been placed in the care of the master of the Gravesend Workhouse, who has accommodation for lunatics; and, whether, to avoid the risk of lunatics being again confined in police cells without proper care, the Government will issue a Circular to magistrates' clerks drawing attention to the statute?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)My attention has been called to the case of Walter Thompson, who died in Banning Heath Lunatic Asylum on June 18 last. The Report of the Justices on the case shows that, from the statements of the police sergeant made when the case came before the Justices as to Thompson's conduct since he had been in custody, it was thought by the Bench that he had been suffering from delirium tremens; but inasmuch as he answered questions that were put to him with the object of ascertaining his state of mind quite rationally, and gave the correct address of a man from whom he was expecting employment, he was remanded, with 498 directions that his statements should be investigated, and that he should be visited by the police surgeon. He fell down accidentally in the cell and cut his head; but I do not gather that he was raving and violent. He was visited regularly by the police surgeon, who was not able to pronounce him insane till June 7, when he was removed to the asylum. The Justices had no power, under the statute quoted, to send him to the workhouse on June 4, as they then considered him sane. I have no reason to believe that magistrates act in ignorance of the law in these cases; and I do not think there is sufficient ground for issuing a Circular to magistrates' clerks calling attention to the statute referred to.