§ MR. FENWICK (Northumberland, Wansbeck)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of John Lee, who was convicted in February, 1885, for the Babbicombe murder and sentenced to death, which sentence was afterwards commuted to one 1192 of penal servitude for life; and whether having regard to the fact that Lee has now served a period of twenty years imprisonment, he can see his way to advise that the clemency of the Crown be exercised in favour of this man's release.
§ *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. AKERS-DOUGLAS, Kent, St. Augustine's)I have fully considered the facts of this case, but I regret that, having regard to the character of Lee's crime, and to the circumstances under which the capital sentence was respited, I cannot advise any exercise of the Royal prerogative in the convict's favour. I may say that, while persons under original sentence of penal servitude for life are as a general rule released on licence when they have served twenty years, this practice does not necessarily apply to cases where a death sentence for murder has been commuted to penal servitude for life; but each such case is considered independently on its merits.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)Are there any periodical seasons for the revision and reconsideration of these cases?
§ *MR. AKERS-DOUGLASCases are brought up from time to time. This case was brought up. It was dealt with by Sir W. Harcourt, who regarded it as a very bad case indeed, and every one of my predecessors have concurred in the opinion of the original Secretary of State.
§ MR. FENWICKHas there been any complaint against the character of Lee during the time he has been in gaol?
§ *MR. AKERS-DOUGLASI do not know of anything in that alone to justify the decision, but we have had to consider the original circumstances, and the fact that this man has threatened the lives of persons now living.