§ 66. Mr. WELLOCKasked the Home Secretary whether Mr. Browne, a prisoner under sentence of death at Pentonville Prison, is allowed to be visited by his relatives; whether he has expressed a desire to see certain of his relatives; and on what grounds Mr. Finch, a brother-in-law, has been refused permission to visit Browne?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSYes, Sir. Arthur Finch, the prisoner's brother-in-law, visited him on Thursday and Saturday last.
§ 69. Mr. MAXTONasked the Home Secretary if he is aware that the same person to whom the reward of £2,000 has been paid in connection with the Police-constable Gutteridge murder case wrote to the defending solicitor offering to give information for the defence at an early stage in the proceedings; and if he will make full inquiry into all the circumstances?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSAn appeal is pending, and I regret that I cannot discuss matters connected with this case.
§ Mr. MAXTONI regret if I am infringing the Rules applying to appeals in putting this question down. My reason for putting it is to ask whether the right hon. Gentleman will make full inquiries into all the circumstances affecting the getting of evidence for this case as they raise matters of grave concern.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSAs a matter of fact, I have asked already for information about this matter, but I cannot give the hon. Member an answer here until the appeals have been decided.
§ Mr. HARDIEHow is it the newspapers can do all these things—offer money for evidence and discuss the thing all over—and the right hon. Gentleman cannot give an answer?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI am restrained by certain considerations which affect the lives of these men, and perhaps the newspapers are not.