MR. BRYN ROBERTS (Carnarvonshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of James Hughes, a farmer's son, who, at the Petty Sessions at Abergele on the 5th March last, was fined £20 for assaulting a police officer; and whether, in view of the slight character of the assault, and of the fact that the young man had not been previously convicted of any offence, he will remit any portion of the penalty?
§ MR. MATTHEWSYes, Sir; I have received a Report concerning this case. It appears that James Hughes, who is a person of superior education and the son of a gentleman farmer, headed a crowd, and took the principal part in rescuing a prisoner from the custody of a police officer. He used threatening language to the officer, and struck him a severe blow on the side of the neck and on the face, and in consequence of this attack on the officer the prisoner escaped. I see no reason whatever for remitting any portion of the fine.