§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether in the written statement to him made by Eggleton before his execution the convict reiterated that he was knocked down senseless and remembered nothing that subsequently occurred; and whether any, and what, evidence has been submitted to him tending to contradict that assertion?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI must take the opportunity afforded by the hon. Member's question to express my strong protest against being asked in this House to give an answer upon an isolated and selected circumstance which is presented by itself to Parliament apart from a great mass of other facts and circumstances, all of which should be kept in sight if any just estimate is to be formed of the weight which ought to be attached to the circumstance in question. It is impossible that I should in answer to a question adequately present the result of a great body of evidence which has received the close attention of the jury, the Judge, and myself. The hon. Member is aware of the conclusion to which all three have arrived; and I must respectfully decline to enter upon any partial discussion of the evidence.
§ MR. CONYBEAREPerhaps I may be allowed to explain that I only put down this question on the Paper in response to the expressed willingness of the right hon. Gentleman to provide the information. I have no intention to enter into a discussion now, but if I see fit I shall renew the discussion at a later period.