§ MR. NEWNES (Cambridge, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of Thomas Locket, who was sentenced at Worship Street Police Court, on the 21st instant, to two months' hard labour for moving a postman's bag a distance of five yards, and whether he intends to take any action in the matter?
§ MR. MATTHEWSThe learned Magistrate who heard the case informs me that this man was convicted not of moving the bag, but of stealing it. I am of opinion that the evidence justified the Magistrate in passing the sentence he did.
§ MR. NEWNESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the prosecutor admitted that the defendent had no intention of stealing the bag?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI have no information to that effect. The man was convicted of stealing the bag.
§ MR. NEWNESHe admitted that it was a mere freak.