§ MR. JOHN CAMPBELL (Armagh, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Staff Sergeant-Major J. S. Loney who, during the siege of Mafeking, was tried by court-martial, pleaded guilty to the theft of Government food-stuffs, was sentenced to reduction, discharge with ignominy, and five years penal servitude; that, during the final attack on Mafeking, Loney was released and took a gallant part in its defence; and that he is at present serving his time at Portland; and whether, having regard to these facts and also to the fact that before joining Baden-Powell Loney was a warrant officer with an excellent character and fifteen years service, during ten of which he had no entry against him, a mitigation of the sentence may be granted.
§ MR. BRODRICKThis question only appeared on the Paper this morning, and I have not had time to look into the facts.