§ MR. CONYBEAREI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of George Osborn, aged seventeen, who was charged on 30th June, 1886, with threatening to accuse another person of an infamous crime with a view to extort money, verdict guilty, and was sentenced to penal servitude for life; and whether, considering the youth of the prisoner, and also in view of the fact that much lighter sentences have recently been imposed for the same offence, he will advise Her Majesty to use Her Royal prerogative of mercy and remit the remainder of Osborn's sentence?
§ MR. MATTHEWSYes, Sir, my attention has on several occasions been called to this conviction. I regret, however, to say that there are circumstances in the case and in the career of the prisoner which prevent me from recommending that the remainder of the sentence should now be remitted.
§ MR. CONYBEAREIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in a similar case a man forty-four years of age was sentenced to five years' penal servitude only? I should like to ask if he has considered the disparity between the two sentences?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI have not compared this sentence with other sentences, but I have compared it with the facts proved.
§ MR. CONYBEAREI beg to give notice that at the earliest possible opportunity in the new Parliament I shall move to bring in a Bill giving power to juries to modify these atrocious sentences.
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!