§ MR. CLYNES (Manchester, N.E.)On behalf of the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydfil I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now had an opportunity of considering the papers relating to the case of Miss Teressa Billington, who was fined £10 with the alternative of two months' imprisonment at the Marylebone police court on Thursday last; and what decision he has come to in relation thereto.
§ * MR. GLADSTONEI have now seen the evidence in this case. It was clearly proved that Miss Billington was, with other women, causing an obstruction in Cavendish Square, and that when a police officer asked her to move away from the square, she slapped him in the face three times, and, after she was arrested, kicked him twice. Miss Billington did not deny these charges nor question the evidence. In these circum stances the Magistrate had no choice but to convict, and I think that his sentence—a fine of £10, or two months imprisonment—was a reasonable and proper one. I have since received an appeal for leniency from the Chancellor of the Exchequer. In consequence of this appeal I have, with the concurrence of the learned Magistrate, reduced the fine to £5, or in default one month's imprisonment.
§ MR. O'GRADY (Leeds, E.)asked whether, seeing that Miss Billington was acting on the advice tendered by the President of the Board of Trade in this matter, the Home Secretary would not use his influence to get a rehearing of the case. There was sufficient 649 evidence to prove that this lady did not commit the assault complained of, but rather resisted an assault committed upon her.
§ [No Answer was returned.]