§ 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 gooseberies 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 RIDLEYI have made inquiries into this case. There seems to be nothing known against the prisoners previously; but as they are seventeen years of age, and the offence of robbing gardens appears to have been prevalent in the neighbourhood, I am not prepared to order their immediate release. I will, however, consider whether a substantial reduction may not be made on account of the facts above stated.