HC Deb 12 March 1889 vol 333 cc1495-6
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 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.