§ MR. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the discharge of the prisoners Griffiths and Thomas, for the attack on Robert Lewis, by the Cardiganshire Magistrates, at Newcastle Emlyn, before the evidence for the prosecution had been heard, on the ground that beating a man on the head is not "wounding" if the skin is not actually divided; whether he is aware that neither of the two Magistrates who came to this decision is a lawyer; whether the Treasury have taken any opinion on the legality of this decision; and whether 1770 any steps are being taken to bring the offenders to justice?
§ MR. ASQUITHI understand that, in this case, the offence charged being wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm, it was contended for the defence that no actual wounding had been proved by the prosecution. The Bench held that the objection must prevail, and the prisoners were discharged. With regard to the second paragraph, I believe that neither Magistrate is a lawyer—not an uncommon case—but no doubt they had the assistance of their Clerk. With regard to the third and fourth paragraphs, I understand that the matter is now being considered by the Public Prosecutor.
§ MR. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the clerk to the Magistrates is a well-known Nonconformist whose sympathies are with those opposed to the tithes?
§ An hon. MEMBER: And are not the bulk of the Welsh Magistrates members of the Church of England?
§ MR. ASQUITHI believe so.