HC Deb 30 June 1890 vol 346 cc321-2
MR. CRILLY

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has seen the report in the Daily News, of the 24th instant, of the case of a man named Jones, who was tried before Mr. Warry, Q.C., at the London County Sessions, sitting at Clerken-well, charged with stealing a purse containing 2s. 4d., and, on conviction, was sentenced by Mr. Warry to 10 years' penal servitude, and from which it appears that the prosecution failed to prove that Jones was seen to take the purse or ever had it in his possession; whether he is aware that the same Magistrate on the following day sentenced another man to 10 years' penal servitude for having stolen an overcoat; and if he will consider the advisability of remitting some portion of this sentence?

*MR. MATTHEWS

I am informed by I the Deputy Chairman that the evidence showed that there were three men en-in the robbery, the third escaping doubtless with the purse, which has not been recovered. The woman who was robbed swore most positively that Jones and a man named Arnold were the men who stole her purse, and the Jury, without hesitation, found both prisoners guilty. The record of previous convictions showed that the prisoner Jones had for the last 18 years been an habitual thief. There were four very experienced Magistrates on the bench, and they unanimously agreed with the Chairman in thinking that 10 years' penal servitude was the proper punishment to inflict, and I see no reason for advising any interference with that decision. The Chairman has not yet placed me in possession of the facts in the case of the man who stole the overcoat. I will in due course acquaint the hon. Member with my decision in that case.

MR. BRUNNER (Cheshire, Northwich)

Would the right hon. Gentleman kindly inform the House how much this man is convicted of having stolen in the course of his career, and how long he has been in prison?

*MR. MATTHEWS

He began in 1869 with eight years' penal servitude for stealing a purse. Then followed a number of other convictions, but I have not all the cases with me.