§ MR. ATHERLEY-JONES (Durham, N.W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been directed to the charge before Mr. Shiel, police magistrate at Westminster Police Court, against Mr. John Wilson, of disorderly conduct, in which the evidence was, that Mr. Wilson was prevented by certain police officers from passing along the footway of a public thoroughfare on the occasion of a wedding at Holy Trinity Church, Chelsea; whether there is any, and, if so, what, authority by Law which enables the police to prevent the passing and repassing of the public along the footway of a public thoroughfare; and, if so, whether the closing of the footway in question was in conformity with that authority; whether he is aware that the police magistrate, in spite of the fact that Mr. Wilson stated he had not finished his cross-examination of a witness, and of his protest, prevented him from continuing his cross-examination, and convicted him of disorderly conduct; and whether he will take any steps to secure a remission of this sentence?
§ MR. ASQUITHI am making inquiries into this case, and must ask my hon. Friend to postpone his question till Tuesday.