§ MR. SAMUEL SMITHI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the decision of the Bench of Magistrates at the Rhyl Police Court last month in the case where two men were charged with grievously assaulting Lemuel Hughes, an old man of 70 years of age, by kicking him, after knocking him down, until he was completely dazed and almost rendered insensible, for which they were only ned 10s. each; whether he is aware 708 that there were twelve previous convictions against one of them, including a conviction for assaulting the police; while the other defendant had not yet paid the fine for a previous conviction; and whether he will consider the expediency of amending the law so that more severe punishments may in future be inflicted for assaults of this nature?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI have received a report from the Magistrates' Clerk concerning this case, together with a copy of the evidence taken at the hearing. I gather from this information that the complainant by no means suffered to the extent mentioned in the question, and that he himself inflicted a violent blow on one of the defendants. The Magistrates inform me that before passing sentence they carefully considered the previous convictions, and that the convictions particularly referred to in this question took place nine years ago. The fine imposed on each prisoner was 10s. and 7s. 3d. costs, or, in default, 14 days' imprisonment, with hard labour. There appears to me to be no sufficient ground for interfering with the sentences in this case, nor for an amendment of the law as to punishment for assaults.