§ 15. Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEasked the Home Secretary whether a memorandum has been issued to prison governors containing recommendations as to the information to be given at inquests following executions; and, if so, whether he will state the terms of the memorandum?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe Departmental instructions issued from time to time to governors include instructions in this matter, but it would be most undesirable and entirely contrary to established practice to make the terms of such instructions public. If the hon. Member desires information on any specific point I shall do my best to inform him.
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEDoes any instruction or memorandum include suggestions that the words used by the governor should be as few as possible, and that he should not give the length of time of the execution?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSIf the hon Member puts enough supplementary questions he will get out of me the exact terms of the instructions, and I think it is undesirable to give that. If the hon. Member will inform me of any particular thing which he thinks ought to be considered, I will carefully consider it.
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEI understood the right hon. Gentleman to say he would answer any specific point, and I have put two points to him. I want to know whether he thinks it desirable that governors should be influenced in the answers they give on oath at inquests by instructions, or what are tantamount to instructions, from the Home Office as to what they should say?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI certainly do not think it is desirable that they should say anything which is not true. I have rather a strong feeling in regard to anything of this character that the less said at the inquest either by governors or any one else, the better.
§ Mr. HAYESIs it not an established practice that in giving evidence before Courts or at inquests the whole of the facts are to be disclosed regardless of what the consequences may be?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSNo. We are dealing here with a very serious matter, with executions, and one does not want to give more details than are necessary to enable a jury to ascertain the cause of death. The hon. Member will realise that there are relatives in existence of the person who has been executed, and I think, and I was almost going to say all decent-minded people would think, it is preferable to draw a veil over these cases.
§ Mr. HAYESShould not the terms of the oath which is taken to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, be adhered to.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe oath is always adhered to.