HC Deb 06 April 1911 vol 23 cc2432-3
Mr. STAVELEY-HILL

asked whether the present whereabouts of Davies, who was discharged from Dartmoor Prison at the end of 1910, have been discovered?

Earl WINTERTON

asked if the police force of the country have yet succeeded positively in discovering the position, whereabouts, and recent antecedents of the released ticket-of-leave man David Davies?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I will answer these two questions together. Davies on Tuesday last was charged before the magistrates at Oswestry with housebreaking, and was remanded in custody till the 13th instant.

Viscount CASTLEREAGH

Arising out of that answer, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman if adequate steps were taken to discover the whereabouts of David Davies, and, if steps were taken, why the commission of the crime could not have been prevented?

Mr. CHURCHILL

Every effort was made to apprehend the convict Davies when it was known that he had broken the condition of his licence. I hope in the course of a few days I may be able to give fuller information as to his whereabouts. I do not know that the information will come with an equal air of novelty in all quarters of the House.

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is now in a position to withdraw the charge made in this House that David Davies was enticed away for political purposes?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I shall be more able to reply to this question when I have acquainted myself with the full movements of David Davies, who was, I believe, in the hon. Gentleman's constituency for some time.

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is aware that David Davies left my constituency many months ago, and nobody in my constituency knew anything more about him than the right hon. Gentleman himself?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I am very glad to accept the hon. Gentleman's disclaimer.

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will exonerate my constituency?

Mr. CHURCHILL

We must regard that as sub judice at present.