§ SIR FORTESCUE FLANNERY (Yorkshire, Shipley)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to a sentence passed on the 11th instant by the justices sitting at Todmorden upon two youths of one calendar month's imprisonment with hard labour, without the option of a fine, upon a conviction for stealing gooseberries worth fourpence; whether his attention has also been called to the statement of the police superintendent concerned in the case that nothing was previously known against the accused; and whether, having regard to the circumstances of the case, he will order the immediate release of the prisoners.
§ * SIR M. WHITE RIDLEYMy attention has been called to this case, into which I am making inquiries.