§ 31. Mr. HUNTasked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in view of the fact that when the conviction of Miss Jessie Brown, of Glasgow, was quashed, Lord Ardwell, with the concurrence of the two other 1415 Appeal Judges, stated that the conviction by the magistrate was a most rash and oppressive act, as he gave her no chance to defend her character, and that it was a dreadful thing that any woman presumably innocent, who had never been in a Police Court before, should be brought up and charged with being a prostitute, he could now see his way to have Miss Brown duly compensated after the years she has wrongly suffered under unjust allegations, which the secret inquiry has proved to be absolutely baseless?
§ Mr. UREI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Lord Advocate to the hon. Member for the Black-friars Division of Glasgow on 8th instant, and to my reply on this subject on the 15th October last to my hon. Friends the Member for the College Division of Glasgow and the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme.
§ Mr. HUNTCan the right hon. Gentleman state whether there is now any allegation against Miss Jessie Brown, and can he say where this case differs from other cases in which compensation has been given?
§ Mr. HUNTThe right hon. Gentleman in his reply implied that there had been allegations; and is he aware that this woman has suffered very severely for four or five years from these allegations?
§ Mr. UREI am not aware of any allegations except those made in Court, and the conviction was quashed.
§ Mr. HUNTI beg to give notice that I will call attention to this matter on the adjournment of the House, and I hope the suffragettes will not run away.
§ Mr. BOOTHArising out of my right hon. Friend's reply, is he prepared to assure the House that he considers the position of Jessie Brown before the law satisfactory?