HC Deb 17 December 1908 vol 198 cc2132-5
MR. GEORGE THORNE (Wolverhampton, E.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received a petition signed by a number of the inhabitants of Brewood, near Wolverhampton, submitting that a miscarriage of justice has taken place by the sentencing of three Irishmen named Thomas Lyons, James Corfield, and Martin Murphy, none of whom had been previously charged with any offence, and who were not professionally represented, at the Brewood Petty Sessions on 16th November last to three months hard labour for the alleged theft of a bicycle; whether he is aware that all three of these men maintained that the bicycle was only detained by them by reason of one of them, Thomas Lyons, having been knocked down by it, and its rider refusing on request to give his name and address, and that the detention was with no felonious intent, but with a view to securing redress for the injury sustained; and whether he will direct the release of these men.

The following Questions were also on the Paper:—

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received a petition signed by a large number of the inhabitants of Brewood, near Wolverhampton, submitting that a serious miscarriage of justice has taken place by the sentencing of three Irishmen named Thomas Lyons, James Corfield, and Martin Murphy, none of whom had been previously charged with any offence, and who were not professionally represented, at the Brewood Petty Sessions on 16th November last to three months hard labour, for the alleged theft of a bicycle; whether he is aware that it is alleged by all three of these men, and submitted by the petitioners, that the bicycle was only detained by them by reason of one of them, Thomas Lyons, having been knocked down by it, and its rider refusing, on request, to give his name and address, and that the detention was with no felonious intent whatever, but solely to obtain the information asked for, with a view to securing redress for the injury sustained; and whether he will direct the release of these men.

MR. McLAREN (Staffordshire, W.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of three men named Thomas Lyons, James Corfield, and Martin Murphy, residing at Brewood, in Staffordshire, who were sentenced to three months hard labour on 16th November for stealing a bicycle; and whether, in view of the doubts existing that the accused had any felonious intent, and in view of their previous exemplary character, as testified by the fact that over 600 signatures were secured in the neighbourhood to a petition on their behalf, he will cause inquiry to be made into the case with a view to remitting the remainder of the sentence.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. GLADSTONE,) Leeds, W.

I have caused careful inquiry to be made as to the facts of this case. The evidence shows that the prisoner Lyons, knocked one of four cyclists off his bicycle into a ditch. The prisoner then took possession of the cycle, and demanded compensation from the cyclists for pretended injury. On the cyclists refusing to comply with this demand, the prisoners retained the bicycle, and it was found in Lyons' house on his arrest. I see no reason to doubt the justice of the conviction. As, however, I find that the prisoners had hitherto borne good characters, I have decided to advise, as an act of clemency, that the sentence of Lyons, the principal offender, be reduced to two months, and that of his companions to six weeks.

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

Will the right hon. Gentleman extend his clemency to these prisoners and release them about Christmas time in view of the fact that a great many people who have no sympathy with them still believe that there has been a miscarriage of justice? Does he think that any useful purpose will be served by keeping them in prison for two months when they ought to be earning a living for their families?

MR. McLAREN

May I join in the same appeal? The memorial was signed very numerously.

MR. GLADSTONE

I have given the matter very careful consideration, and I cannot add anything to my statement.

MR. JOHN O'CONNOR (Kildare, N.)

Is it not a fact that these men were convicted of a technical offence, and that the element of intent was entirely absent from the case?

* MR. GLADSTONE

I cannot admit that at all. The case was very carefully considered by Lord Hatherton, who is a Chairman of Quarter Sessions.

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

The right hon. Gentleman has heard only one side of the case, and that is the record of the Court. [Order, order.]

* MR. SPEAKER

Will the hon. Gentleman put his Question?

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

I will, but I was interrupted. May I ask whether, in view of the fact—

* MR. SPEAKER

Order, order. Will the hon. Gentleman leave out all preliminaries?

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

Yes, Sir. Will the right hon. Gentleman give me permission to visit these prisoners and hear what they have to say?

MR. GLADSTONE

I cannot put the hon. Gentleman in the position of a Judge in the case; but I will certainly give proper consideration to any request that may be made to see the prisoners.

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

I do appeal to be allowed to see them, and to take down from them such statements as they may have to make.

[No Answer was returned.]