HC Deb 16 February 1899 vol 66 cc1078-9
MR. JOHN ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been directed to the case of three men of the name of Chrimes, who were, on 20th December, 1898, sentenced to seven and 12 years' penal servitude for a wide-spread conspiracy to charge persons with having committed crimes, with intent to extort money; whether the following rider of the jury has come under his notice:— The jury feel that such a vile plot, even with all the ingenuity displayed in it, could only have been possible by the acceptance of such immoral advertisements by a section of the Press, religious and secular, well knowing their nature. They further express their earnest conviction that means should be taken to suppress such advertisements and the institutions from which they emanate, as they consider them direct incentives to ignorant and evil-minded women to commit crime"; and whether he sees his way to take any steps in the direction indicated?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir M. WHITE RIDLEY,) Lanc., Blackpool

My attention has been called to this case and to the rider of the jury. In my opinion the question of dealing with indecent advertisements either by amending the Indecent Advertisements Act or otherwise, is one deserving of serious consideration, and I am giving my best attention to the subject.