§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)asked the Lord Advocate whether his attention had been drawn to a conviction, by Sheriff Hamilton, in the Edinburgh Sheriff Summary Court, on 9th March, of five boys, charged with having, without leave, hawked newspapers 1559 for sale on the North British Railway Station; whether three of the boys, who had been previously convicted of similar trespass, were sentenced to six stripes with a birch rod, and the remaining two lads to two stripes; and whether these sentences of flogging for such simple trespass were authorized by law?
§ *THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. P. B. ROBERTSON,) ButeshireI have communicated with the Sheriff as to this matter, but as he is temporarily absent from home I have not yet got information to enable me to answer the question. I shall therefore be obliged by the hon. Member postponing the question for a week.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHI will postpone it until this day week.