HC Deb 09 February 1899 vol 66 c321
MR. DAVITT (Mayo, South)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with regard to the case of Guiseppe Labella, a young Italian waiter, who was charged at the Hastings Quarter Sessions in September last with burglary, whether he is aware that the prisoner was apprehended in the house by a detective officer and police sergeant who were awaiting his arrival on the premises; and that Labella was decoyed into this place by an alleged police spy; whether he is aware that the proceedings against Labella were denounced in court as a wicked, malicious, and scandalous police plot, and that Labella was at once acquitted by the jury; and if any inquiry has been ordered into this matter by the Home Office; if so, with what results?

THE HOME SECRETARY

The matter has been thoroughly inquired into There is no reason to suppose that the police were parties to any such plot as is suggested, and I see no reason to take further action in the matter.