§ MR. C. DARLING (Deptford)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the fact, as reported in the Daily Chronicle, that reporters for the newspapers were, by the persons present on the wagons in Hyde Park as participators in the Temperance Demonstration of last Saturday, received with vulgar and abusive language, and were asked for beer money; whether such language and solicitation is contrary to the Vagrant Acts; and, whether the names of the offenders have been ascertained by the police?
§ MR. CUNNINGHAME GRAHAM (Lanark, N.W.)And I wish, before the right hon. Gentleman answers that question, to ask him whether a teetotaller who asks a reporter for "beer money" as a condition of his going on the platform is guilty of a crime or a misdemeanour?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI am informed by the Commissioner of Police that he has heard nothing of the facts alleged in the question of my hon. and learned Friend; I am not, therefore, in a position to say whether an offence against the law has been committed by any person.