§ 50 Mr. RENDALLasked the Home Secretary whether he has now been able to consider the case of William Crew, sentenced at Keynsham (Somerset) Petty Sessions, to six weeks' hard labour for stealing some apples; whether he has received a petition on Crew's behalf; and will he, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, advise a reduction of the sentence?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have had the facts of this case under my careful consideration. The prisoner and two other men with a horse and cart were found plundering an apple orchard in a lonely village in broad daylight. When the owner tried to get them to stop, they threatened him and went on with the work of pillage. In these circumstances I do not find any sufficient ground for advising a reduction of the sentence.