§ Sir WILLIAM BYLESasked whether the Home Secretary's attention has been called to the sentences of flogging passed on three prisoners at Swansea Assizes; and whether he intends to allow those sentences to be carried out?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have not received any representation from or on behalf of the prisoners referred to. If any representation is received, I shall, of course, give it my careful consideration; but the prisoners' proper course, if they are dissatisfied with their sentences, is to apply to the Court of Criminal Appeal.
§ Sir W. BYLESasked whether the Home Secretary's attention has been called to the sentence by Mr. Justice Scrutton at the Leeds Assizes of twenty-four strokes with the cat, in addition to imprisonment with hard labour, passed upon two prisoners, Richardson and Conlon; and whether the division of the corporal punishment into two doses of twelve strokes each, with an interval of three months for the flesh to heal, is so novel a refinement of this form of punishment that he will use his powers as Secretary of State to prevent at least the second instalment of the flogging from being carried out?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe Court of Criminal Appeal having given leave to these two prisoners to appeal against their sentence, I can say nothing about the case pending the hearing of the appeal. I may add, however, that in previous cases I have remitted a second instalment of a flogging for the same offence.