§ MR. PICKERSGILLI beg to ask the Attorney General whether the Director of Public Prosecutions was requested by a Metropolitan Magistrate to take up the prosecution of William Edward Parker, on a charge of fraud practised on upwards of 300 poor persons in different parts of London, and whether he declined to do so, alleging as his reason that it was a case for the County Court; whether Parker has since been convicted at the London Sessions, and sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment; and whether the case received due consideration from the Director of Public Prosecutions when it was submitted to him, and upon what grounds did he base his decision in regard to it?
SIR R. WEBSTERIn reply to the hon. Member, I am informed by the Director of Prosecutions that he was not requested to take up the prosecution of 1078 W. E. Parker, and did not decline to do so. The Magistrate recommended that legal aid should be given to the prosecution, and legal aid was given by the Director to the police sergeant and to the authorities, in accordance with the regulations. Parker was convicted at the London Sessions and sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment. The case did receive due consideration and assistance from the Director.