§ DR. TANNERI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in connection with the murder of a prisoner in Strangeways Gaol, whether, in view of the fact that the warder Mitchell had been previously charged by the Governor of the Gaol in question with assulting another delirious prisoner, any steps were taken by the Prison Commissioners to prevent the repetition of such an offence; whether Mitchell will be re-admitted into the prison service; whether, as Mr. Justice Grantham, in his charge to the jury, said that probably the day warder, Rappley, had been the cause of Gatcliffe's death, it is the intention of the Government to proceed against Rappley; and whether an inquiry will be instituted into the circumstances of the case, and take into consideration the suggestions of Inspector Captain Wilson?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. MATTHEWS,) Birmingham, E.It is not the fact that Mitchell had been previously charged with assaulting 168 a prisoner, and he was charged at the Assizes, not with murder, but with manslaughter, and was acquitted. Mitchell has not been re-admitted into the prison service, and will not be. I do not understand the Judge to have expressed an opinion as stated in the question. There is no evidence against Rappley which would justify proceedings being taken against him. The fullest inquiry has already been made into the whole of the circumstances, and every precaution will be taken in future to prevent the possibility of such an occurrence.