§ MR. A. C. MORTONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of Henry Hick-men, aged 60, who was sentenced to five years' penal servitude for poisoning fish at Southwell on the 23rd October last, at the Newark (Nottingham) County Quarter Sessions; and whether he will inquire into the matter, with a view to the mitigation of the sentence?
§ MR. ASQUITHThis man was charged with poisoning a considerable length of the main stream of the district used largely both for domestic purposes and for watering cattle. He pleaded guilty. He appears to be an habitual criminal of a bad type, having been convicted no less than 21 times during the last 30 years of various offences, including burglary and many larcenies. I cannot interfere with the sentence.
§ MR. A. C. MORTONAdmitting all that is said of the bad character of the man, does not the right hon. Gentleman think a sentence of five years' penal servitude for the offence was a harsh one?
§ MR. ASQUITHNo, Sir; I do not.