§ MR. LABOUCHEREI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the evidence submitted to the Coroner's Jury upon the inquest on the body of a convict, Andrew Barton, who died at the Portsmouth Convict Prison on 20th May, and to the verdict; and whether, in view of the serious allegations made against the Prison officials, it is intended to hold a public inquiry?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI have not been able as yet to procure a full Report of the evidence submitted to the Coroner's Jury, but I hope shortly to have one; and in the meanwhile I have called for a full Report from the Visiting Directors, and when I receive this information I shall be in a position to judge whether further inquiry is necessary and what steps should be taken.