§ 59. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Home Secretary whether the four men convicted at the Central Criminal Court on 14th February last in what was known as the treacle-plaster robbery have applied for leave to appeal, and have also applied for a copy of the shorthand notes of the trial, which application has been refused; whether, in the first instance, the magistrate at Tower Bridge Police Court discharged another man, who had voluntarily confessed to having taken part with several other men in the robbery of the cashier, without reading the man's statement or questioning him upon it; whether, when the four men who have been convicted were brought up for trial the first time, the jury disagreed; whether at the second trial the defending counsel did not call further witnesses for the defence, but closed his case summarily; whether the police have refused to produce the statement of the man who confessed to participation in the robbery; and whether, in view of all the circumstances of the case, he will take steps to have the statement referred to produced, and thus afford the prisoners every reasonable facility for proving their innocence?
§ Mr. MCKENNAThe matters referred to are matters for the consideration of the Court of Criminal Appeal. I understand that the prisoners' applications are being heard by the Court of Criminal Appeal to-day.