HC Deb 12 May 1892 vol 4 c718
MR. CONYBEARE

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to a letter signed "H. Whorlow" in the Daily News of the 10th instant, relating to the trial and sentence by the Recorder of London to six months' imprisonment of Mr. Lewis Lyons for a libel published in the Yiddish language on Mr. Charles Tarling, from which it appears that Mr. Lyons, who on account of poverty employed no solicitor, only discovered when it was too late that certain forms of law were essential in order that he might, as he intended, prove justification, and was not allowed to call any witnesses, on the ground that no notice had been given of his intention to plead justification; and whether, under all the circumstances, he will inquire into the case with a view to a mitigation of the sentence?

MR. MATTHEWS

I shall be glad if the hon. Member will be good enough to postpone this question for a few days.