§ MR. BRUNNER (Cheshire, Northwich)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the case of a man named Jones, who was sentenced by Mr. Warry, Q.C., at the Clerkenwell Sessions, to 10 years' penal servitude, how many years' imprisonment he has undergone under previous convictions, and what was the amount of money or the value of the 797 articles the stealing of which led to such convictions in each case?
§ MR. MATTHEWSSince 1869 this man has served two sentences of eight years' penal servitude, and two sentences of imprisonment of six months' and 18 months' respectively. The sentences of penal servitude were for stealing a purse and certain moneys (the actual amount is not specified in the calendar), and for stealing a watch of the value of £4. The other sentences were for stealing watches, one of them being of the value of £2. I may add that previous to 1869 this man had been six times convicted as a rogue and vagabond, and once as an incorrigible rogue.
§ *MR. BRUNNERWill the right hon. Gentleman inquire whether this man is slowly becoming more and more fit to take his place among honest and industrious people?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI am hardly aware of the source to which I could apply.
§ *MR. BRUNNERI would suggest the chaplain.