§ MR. CAINE (Barrow)asked the Attorney General whether he had received a memorial stating that Mr. Thomas Sowler, a Justice of the Peace for Manchester, had committed a breach of the 60th section of the Licensing Act of 1872 by sitting on the Bench at a licensing session, when application was made for the renewal or transfer of a licence for a house belonging to a limited company in which he was a shareholder; and what steps he proposed to take in the matter?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir R. WEBSTER,) Isle of WightA memorial was received substantially to the effect stated in the question of the hon. Member. In consequence, I directed proceedings to be taken for a penalty, since which I have received a statement from Mr. Sowler stating that he acted from inadvertence and ignorance of the law. I have been in communication with the solicitor of the petitioner, and the matter is having my most careful consideration.