HC Deb 21 July 1927 vol 209 cc554-5
13. Mr. W. BAKER

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that at the beginning of October last Mr. Newton, a telegraphist in the established service of the Government, was certified by a specialist to be suffering from sleeping sickness and was given a month's leave; that on 13th June last Mr. Newton was missing from his home at Manchester and, although full particulars were supplied to the police, who caused information to be published broadcast and inserted notices in the newspapers, he was charged at Longton with sleeping out and was sentenced to a month's imprisonment, without remand or police inquiry; that the first intimation received by Mrs. Newton was sent to her by the Governor of Strangeways Prison, who informed her that her husband would be released on 19th July; and whether, having regard to the dangers disclosed by this incident, he will cause prisoners showing symptoms of this disease to be specially reported upon by the prison doctor on arrival?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I am well aware of the facts of this case about which the hon. Member for Rusholme (Mr. Betterton) communicated with me a month ago. Newton was found by the Longton police asleep on a haystack with a filled pipe and matches. In Court he gave no information about himself, but said he came from Birmingham. Fortunately, the police, after he had been sentenced, gleaned some further information which they communicated to the prison governor. The prison governor reported to me and also sent me a report from the medical officer. I immediately arranged for the man's release, and he was returned to his friends on 25th June. The fact that the prison doctor sent the man to hospital and made a special report to the effect that he was probably suffering from encephalitis lethargica shows that the care which the hon. Member desires is exercised in these cases.