§ MR. JAMES STUARTI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received any information as to the conviction of 17 members of the Salvation Army on Friday, 28th June, for obstruction in Whit church, a village whose population is stated to be less than 2,000; whether he can give any information to the House of what the nature of the obstruction was; and, whether the 17 persons are now in prison?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI have received a Report from the clerk to the Justices on this case. It appears that the nature of the obstruction was the assembling of a large crowd of persons forming a ring about 43 yards in circumference in the square at Whitchurch, into which five carriage roads lead. The area of the square is about 30 yards square. The presence of this crowd in the square blocked the footway and prevented the free passage of carts and carriages, so that accidents and collisions were likely to occur. Members of the Salvation Army had been convicted of a similar offence on the 31st of May and on the 14th of June. On the 28th of June fines of 1s. and costs were imposed on the 17 defendants, and at the request of their counsel seven days were allowed for payment to enable them to apply for a case. No case has been applied for, and no commitments have yet been issued on the latter convictions.