§ Mr. KELLAWAYasked the Home Secretary 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 while 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 423 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?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have now made inquiry with regard to the case. The question is one of evidence, and I do not feel able upon any information at my disposal to confirm or reverse the decision to which the justices came. The prisoner had a right of appeal to quarter sessions, and his previous record comprises fifteen convictions.
§ Mr. KELLAWAYIs the right of appeal any use to a man like this who is working for a wage of from 15s. to 16s. per week, and did he not pay the penalty of his previous convictions?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe question I have to settle is whether I can endeavour to retry a case unless new facts or very surprising circumstances are brought to the notice of the Home Secretary. I do not think there are any grounds for expecting me to try and judge matters which only those who see the witnesses and the prisoner can form a judgment upon.
§ Mr. J. WARDAre we to take it for granted that the fact of a man going along a road with dirty trousers and a dog, and that he has been previously convicted, is sufficient to convict him again?