§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the report of the trial, at Winchester Assizes, on Thursday last, of a young woman, who, after having been in gaol two months on a charge of concealment of birth, was acquitted, and "the jury considered 1496 that it was hard treatment of the girl to have committed her; the Judge agreed, and said the girl should have been allowed out on her own recognizances;" and, whether he will communicate with the committing magistrates with reference to their conduct in the case?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. MATTHEWS,) Birmingham, E.I am informed by the Clerk of Assize that the facts are as stated. I have called the attention of the committing magistrates to the opinion expressed by the jury and endorsed by the learned Judge.