§ SIR SEYMOUR KINGI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the, fact that last month the police made a raid on the "Prince George" public house in High Street, Hull, and arrested a number of persons on a charge of haunting and frequenting for the purpose of gaming, among whom were some working men who had entered the bar a few minutes previously to the arrest, and were subsequently discharged, no evidence being produced against them by the police; whether he is aware that these men were marched through the 382 streets by the police to the station, searched, and detained in custody from shortly after three in the afternoon until enlarged by the magistrate on bail on the next afternoon, bail being refused although two magistrates were prepared to offer it, and subsequently had to appear twice at the Police Court, losing in all three days' work; whether he has been informed that the cases of these, men have created general indignation in Hull and throughout Yorkshire; and if he is prepared to recommend that they shall be compensated for the loss to which they have been subjected?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY,) Lancashire, BlackpoolMy attention was first called to this case by the hon. Member's Question, and I have no information at all of its having excited a general feeling of indignation in the county. It has been impossible for me to obtain a full report of the facts, but I have no reason to doubt that they are, substantially, as stated in the Question. The arrests, however, were effected on a warrant granted by the police magistrate, and the police court having risen for that day, there appears to have been no power to admit the accused to bail. I am afraid this is not a case in which I could grant any compensation from any fund under my control.