§ Mr. BOTTOMLEY(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Cyril Victor Tennyson Saunders, who joined the Army at the age of 15 years during the War, is now lying under sentence of death at Exeter for the murder of a young cousin in September last; whether the sentence is due to be carried out to-morrow; whether shortly before the crime Saunders met with a serious accident to his head, necessitating his detention in hospital for a considerable period; whether a medical man of prominence in mental cases at the trial expressed the view that at the time Saunders, as a result of the accident, was not responsible; whether a petition for his reprieve has been received signed by nearly 150,000 persons: and whether, under these circumstances, he will order a postponement of the execution pending an inquiry by mental experts into the state of mind of this young soldier, who, until after his accident, never had any black mark against his name?
§ Mr. SHORTTI cannot accept the statement of facts of my hon. Friend. I have given the most careful and anxious consideration to the case, and have consulted everybody—experts as well as the learned Judge—and I can see no ground at all for interference.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYDoes the right hon. Gentleman say that since the conviction and sentence of this young soldier there has been any examination of him by a mental expert?
§ Mr. SHORTTThere is no suggestion and never has been that an examination of the prisoner by a mental expert would be of any value.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that a medical man—an authority on lunacy—swore at at the trial that, in his opinion, this man was not responsible for his action, and that it is only because of the poverty of his parents he cannot appeal? Will he therefore have him examined by a medical expert?
§ Mr. SHORTTI must decline to answer any further question.
§ At end of Questions—
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYrose—
§ Mr. SPEAKERWith regard to the Motion for Adjournment which I understand the hon. Member was proposing to make, I must point out that I could not accept such a Motion. It would be an interference with the ordinary administration of the course of justice. It has been laid down on previous occasions in this House that no Motion for the Adjournment could be accepted in such a case.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYI beg to give notice that, when the Home Secretary's salary next comes up for discussion, I shall move that he is utterly unfit for his office.