MR. T. F. RICHARDSI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that at the Northallerton Quarter Sessions the chairman ordered twenty lashes to be administered to a so-called incorrigible rogue, to be given on two separate occasions, the first a week from that day and the other as soon after as the doctor certified that he was fit to receive it; and whether, in view of the Criminal Appeal Act of 1907, which provides for a ten days' grace for appeal, and of the provisions of the Vagrants Acts as to a whipping being inflicted by two instalments, and seeing that this is the first double flogging since Sir M. W. Ridley put a stop to such 1040 sentences in 1900, he will say what action he intends to take in the matter.
§ MR. GLADSTONEI am aware of this case. The conviction was for living on the earnings of prostitution, and it was proved that the man had grossly ill-treated the unfortunate woman. He had three previous convictions of the same offence. In accordance with the regular practice of myself and my predecessors, one of the two instalments of corporal punishment has been remitted. The other, consisting of ten lashes, was carried out after the time allowed for appeal had expired, the prisoner having decided not to appeal.