MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether James M'Kevitt, sentenced to fifteen years' penal servitude at the Liverpool Assizes, 1881, is still confined in Chatham Prison; why 1127 was he not removed to Portland Prison with the treason felony convicts; when will he be entitled to discharge on a ticket-of-leave; how has he been employed from his conviction to the present; and was he examined by the visitors who took evidence in Chatham Prison in 1890 as to the treatment of treason felony prisoners then confined there; if not, for what special reason was he omitted? The hon. Gentleman also had notice of the following question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state where the prisoners John Duff, Thomas Callan, and Michael Harkins, whose names are given in the Report of the 19th April, 1890, relating to the treatment of prisoners in Chatham, are at present confined; and what was the date of their convictions and length of their sentences?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. MATTHEWS,) Birmingham, E.The convict James M'Kevitt is still at Chatham Prison, but will shortly be removed to Portland. Arrangements have been proceeding for closing Chatham Prison, and many convicts have been transferred to other prisons; M'Kevitt has hitherto not been one of them. There has been no special reason for retaining him at Chatham. On 1st April, 1893, he will be entitled to discharge, supposing that his conduct has been good. He has been employed as a labourer and as a cleaner. He was not examined by the visitors at Chatham in 1890, whose report states that he was in the infirmary at the time, and that he had informed the Chairman that he had no complaint to make, except as to his sentence. John Duff was convicted on 12th November, 1885, was sentenced to twenty years' penal servitude, and is now at Portland Prison. Thomas Callan was convicted on 30th January, 1888, was sentenced to fifteen years' penal servitude, and is now at Chatham Prison. Michael Harkins was convicted on 30th January, 1888, was sentenced to fifteen years' penal servitude, and was released on licence on medical grounds on 12th August, 1891.
MR. PATRICK O'BRIENCan the right hon. Gentleman say what complaint he was suffering from when he was released?
§ MR. MATTHEWSOh, I cannot say.