§ Mr. KELLAWAYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the case of George Townsend, who was charged at the Towcester divisional petty sessions with a breach of the Poaching Prevention Act, and with being in possession of a gun and live cartridges at Towcester on 14th March, for which alleged offence he was fined 30s. and his gun confiscated; if the evidence showed that Townsend was stopped by the police whilst cycling along the high road, on the ground that he had a gun on his cycle, had mud on his trousers, and was followed by a mongrel collie dog; if Townsend proved that he had a licence to carry a gun, and a witness for the defence declared that he had been with defendant the whole time and they had not left the high road; and if, in view of these facts, he proposes to take any steps in the case?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Churchill)I have communicated with the justices, but I regret that I have not yet received their reply. I should be glad if my hon. Friend would repeat his question in a day or two. I have telegraphed to expedite matters.