§ Mr. O'GRADYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the sentence of 18 months' hard labour passed on a man named John Smith for breaking a window in Oxford-street on 16th February of this year; and whether, having regard to the time Smith has already spent in prison and that his action was the result of being out of employment, any steps will be taken to mitigate the original sentence or release the man in question?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Herbert Samuel)The prisoner's offence was inciting others to steal. In view of the character of the offence and the bad antecedents of the offender, the Secretary of State regrets that he can see no ground for advising any reduction of the sentence. The prisoner has availed himself of his rights under the Criminal Appeal Act, but the Court refused his application.