§ MR. ESSEX (Gloucestershire, Cirencester)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received any petition or petitions praying for the complete or partial remission of the sentences passed by Mr. Justice Lawrence at the recent Gloucester assizes upon Barrett and others for rioting on Good Friday last at Leckhampton Hill, Cheltenham; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.
MR. SEAKSI beg also to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the Leckhampton Hill case, which arose out of a demonstration in defence of public rights; is he aware that Mr. Barrett, among others, was sentenced to four months hard labour, although police and other witnesses testified to his character and respectability, and to the fact that the general tone of his speech was to persuade the people not to do damage; that he took no part in and was not present at the riot; is he aware that Barrett's speech, urging the people not to do damage, was construed to be an incitement to riot; and will he investigate the case and reconsider the sentences passed by the judge on Barrett and the other prisoners.
§ MR. GLADSTONEI have received no petition in this case, though my attention has been drawn to it informally by the hon. Member for Cheltenham, but the newspaper report with which he has kindly furnished me is the only information I as yet possess. I can only say that if I receive any petition shewing grounds for believing either that any of the convictions are wrong, or that the sentences are unnecessarily severe, it will be my duty carefully to consider all the reasons alleged, and to consult the judge, and make any inquiries that may be necessary before deciding what advice I should tender to the King.