§ MR. HARWOODI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the evidence was submitted to him in the case of Joseph Holden, of Bury, who was hanged at Manchester on Tuesday, 4th December.
§ * MR. RITCHIEThe answer to the question is, of course, in the affirmative, but I may perhaps be allowed to explain that as the prisoner's sanity was called in question I appointed two gentlemen of great experience in criminal lunacy to hold an inquiry, as prescribed by statute, into his mental condition, and that they came to the clear conclusion that he was sane and responsible for his actions at the 504 time of their examination and when the crime was committed. The murder was a peculiarly brutal one, and after careful consideration of all the circumstances I did not feel justified in advising interference with the due course of law.
§ MR. HARWOODWas it brought under the notice of the right hon. Gentleman that this man had been confined in a lunatic asylum and yet the judge accepted his plea?
§ * MR. RITCHIEAll the circumstances in connection with this matter were fully before me.
§ * MR. RITCHIEHe pleaded guilty.
§ MR. CALDWELL (Lanarkshire, Mid)Do you accept a plea of guilty in the case of a lunatic?
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!