28. Mr. MONTAGUE BARLOWasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will have inquiry made into the case of a young man named Harvey, who was, on Friday, 25th October, convicted and sentenced to six weeks with hard labour at the Salford Police Court, on the ground of being accessory to the theft of a gold watch; whether he is aware that Harvey was in no way connected with the actual theft and only had the watch in his possession for a short time, that he has always borne an excellent character, and is now the main support of his widowed mother and her four other children; and whether he will favourably consider the case with a view to the remission of a portion of the sentence?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)I have made inquiry of the magistrates, and I find that Harvey pleaded guilty to 1973 the offence. Having regard to all the circumstances, I regret that I do not feel justified in interfering with the sentence passed by the magistrates.
Mr. M. BARLOWIs it not the fact that Harvey had not the watch in his possession except for a very short period?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am not aware of the facts of the case except that Harvey pleaded guilty.