§ MR. DAVITT (Mayo, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to a case at the Southwark police court, in which a child seven years old was prosecuted a few days ago for stone-throwing in the street; whether he is aware that in attempting to make the child realise his position the magistrate only elicited a fit of crying from the 405 culprit; what was done to the child; and was a minister of religion present in court forbidden by the police to speak to the child while in the dock?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY,) Lancashire, BlackpoolThe answer to the first two paragraphs is in the affirmative. A fine of 6d., with 2s. costs, was imposed, which was not paid; but the boy was liberated at the rising of the court, about four o'clock. A minister of religion, who happened to be present in court, but had no connection with the case, attempted to speak to the boy during the hearing, and was requested to desist not by the police, but by the clerk of the court.