§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSON (Middlesbrough)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention was called to the arrest and imprisonment of two seamen named Victor Rolph and Arnold Alexander from on board the steamship Arroyo on the 1st of June, whilst the vessel was lying in the Northumberland Dock, in the port of Tyne; whether he is aware that the arrest was made by two dock constables in the employ of the River Tyne Commission; that they went on board the vessel and arrested and handcuffed the two men without any authority; also that these men were detained in the North Shields police station, and that no charge against 322 them was entered in the charge book or read over to the men until they were put in the dock before the magistrates; whether he is aware that the two magistrates trying the case were shipowners, and that on the uncorroborated evidence of the captain they sentenced the men to 14 days' imprisonment; also that it was afterwards discovered that the men had been unjustly convicted and imprisoned; and after they had been kept in gaol for eight days were released on an order from the Home Office; whether he can state if dock policemen have the right to board British vessels and make arrests without warrants or summonses; and whether, taking the whole facts into consideration, he is prepared to recommend that some compensation be paid to these men for the treatment they have suffered?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENTThe honourable Member is not, I think, quite correctly informed as to the arrest of these men. Information was laid upon oath against them, and a warrant for their arrest duly issued by one of the Tynemouth borough magistrates. My attention was drawn to the case on the 7th June, and, after inquiry, they were discharged by my direction on the following day. I am afraid that it is not a case in which any grant can be made to the two men from public funds.
§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSONArising out of the answer, may I ask the right honourable Gentleman if he is aware that these men were arrested at eight o'clock in the morning; that no warrant or summons was issued against them; and that no charge was read out to them until they appeared before the magistrate?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENTMy information is that the warrant was duly issued by the magistrates.
§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSONWill the right honourable Gentleman make further inquiries?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENTNo, Sir; I made inquiries at the time, and was satisfied that there had been a mistake, and that the warrant was issued upon wrong 323 information. I released the men, but I could do no more.
§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSONThat is not compensation.