§ MR. BERNARD COLERIDGE (Sheffield, Attercliffe)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the case of William Julian, labourer, of Cropwell Bishop, who, on the 13th of June, was charged before the Justices at Bingham, in Nottinghamshire, with being in unlawful possession of 28 partridge eggs on the 2nd of June, in which case, although it was proved that, as to 15 of the eggs, they were given to him by a man called Hardy, and that, as to 13 of the eggs, they were taken from the land of a man named Starbuck by Starbuck's permission, Starbuck being a man having the right by Law to take such eggs, according to his own evidence, the Justices fined the man Julian 5s. for every one of the 28 eggs, being the full penalty permitted by Law, and in default of payment sentenced him to two months' imprisonment; and, whether, under the circumstances, he will reduce the fine.
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. MATTHEWS,) Birmingham, E.Yes, Sir; my attention has been called to this case; but it is one which does not call for interference on my part.