§ MR. RADFORD (Islington, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of John Hay, who was convicted at the Central Criminal Court on 28th May, 1883, on a charge of receiving stolen goods and sentenced to seven years penal servitude, was released on ticket-of-leave on 8th November, 1883, and received a free pardon from Her late Majesty Queen Victoria, on 9th May, 1885; whether he is aware that in consequence of his wrongful conviction and imprisonment John Hay has suffered heavy pecuniary loss; and whether he will consider and advise whether compensation may be properly granted to him, as was recently done in the case of Adolph Beck and in many previous cases of wrongful conviction.
§ MR. GLADSTONEThis case has been repeatedly considered by my predecessors since 1885. They decided that there were, no sufficient grounds for granting compensation out of public money. I regret that I cannot re-open the question.
§ *MR. RADFORDDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider that the fact that the misfortune has been suffered by this man since 1885 is a reason why he should not receive compensation?
§ MR. GLADSTONEHaving regard to all the circumstances I am afraid I can add nothing to my Answer.