§ MR. W. HAZELL (Leicester)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether his attention has been called to the case of William Johnson, a labourer, charged at the recent Surrey Quarter Sessions with stealing, for picking up spent bullets at the Ash ranges, and who was found "Not guilty," and discharged, after being in prison awaiting trial for 67 days; (2) whether it is true as stated that he pleaded that he did not know that he was doing wrong; (3) whether he elected to go to trial instead of being dealt with summarily by the magistrates; and, if so, whether he was informed of the time which must elapse before the sessions were held, and offered bail; and (4) whether the Grand Jury made a presentment against the injustice of the case; and, if so, what action it is proposed to take thereon?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENTThe prisoner does not appear to have pleaded before the magistrates that he did not know he was doing wrong: he stated that he reserved his defence; but otherwise the facts of the case as represented in the first, second, and last paragraphs of the Question are substantially correct. With regard to the third paragraph, I am informed that the prisoner was expressly and repeatedly told of the length of time that would elapse before trial, but that he 943 would not consent to the case being dealt with summarily. Bail was neither applied for nor offered. The police report that Johnson would not give any account of himself, and that they were unable to ascertain anything as to his antecedents.