§ 7. Mr. HAYESasked the Rome Secretary whether he is aware that the governor of Bedford Prison advised the prison doctor on several occasions on and after 19th May to remove prisoner Russell to a hospital cell and inform the relatives of the prisoner's serious illness; that this advice was not acted upon; that the doctor stated that the man was not seriously ill and would be all right in a day or two; that the governor reported to the Prison Commissioners that he was not satisfied that the doctor had done all that could have been done for the prisoner; whether these points were considered at the Home Office inquiry; and whether the Prison Commissioners took into account, when submitting their 602 recommendations to him, the 36 years of unblemished record of the governor and his consistent advocacy for many years of prison and penal reform?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI am very sorry to have to answer questions which compel me to go into details concerning the degree of blameworthiness of an officer who, apart from this painful incident, had a long record of valuable service to his credit, and I will be as brief as possible. Every point that could be urged in his favour was considered at the inquiry, and every factor was taken into consideration by the Commissioners and by me. But the responsibility of the governor of a prison for what goes on under his management must be recognised, and I felt that it was my clear duty after what had happened in this case to take the course that I announced to the House a fortnight ago.