§ 16. Captain FRASERasked the Home Secretary if he will co-operate with the Queensland Government to secure, 1833 jointly or otherwise, compensation for Mr. Hubert Storey, who was mistakenly arrested on his arrival at Graves-end from Queensland on s.s. "Sydic" on 5th September, 1928, and suffered the indignity occasioned by a week's imprisonment and the mistaken charge of murder, having regard to the conflict of opinion as to the responsibility of the British police or of the Queensland Government?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI must apologise to the House for the length of this answer, but I know that my hon. and gallant Friend is very much interested. Mr. Storey was arrested by Metropolitan Police officers upon a cabled request from the Queensland Police under the Fugitive Offenders Act. His identification as the person indicated by the description furnished in the telegram from the Queensland Government asking for the arrest cannot, in my opinion, be challenged. The description tallied so closely that I am bound to conclude that some at least of the particulars furnished as an aid to identification related in fact to Mr. Storey, the man who had embarked on the "Sydic" at Cairns. Information, however, was obtained by the Metropolitan Police tending to show that he was not the man Kelly wanted for murder. This information was at once cabled to the Queensland Government who replied after four days asking that Mr. Storey should be released and this was promptly done. While I deeply regret the inconvenience and indignity which Mr. Storey has suffered, I cannot admit that any responsibility therefore rests with the Metropolitan Police, Who had no option in the circumstances but to comply with the cabled request of the Queensland Government.
§ Captain FRASERSince this question appeared on the Paper, has the Home Secretary seen a letter from the Agent-General of the Queensland Government, which confirms their view that the discrepancy between the cabled description and this particular man was such that they cannot understand the Metropolitan Police taking the action that they did; and does he not think that this conflict of opinion as to whether or not the Metropolitan Police were at fault is sufficient ground for being generous in the 1834 matter and giving my constituent some compensation?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have in my possession the cable in question asking for the arrest of this man on his arrival in London, and I must confess that the description tallied to an extraordinary degree. It is not for me to make any comment on the action of the Queensland Government, but the London police have done nothing whatever but carry out their request to arrest this man. Immediately we were satisfied that it was not this man, we cabled out to the Queensland Government, and they took four days to reply authorising us to release him.
§ Captain FRASERThough the Home Secretary may have seen the two descriptions and considered that they tallied, has he seen the man, and will he take some steps to see that an impartial person peruses the two conflicting matters to see whether justice has been done?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI should be willing to see the man if my hon. Friend would bring him to me, but I ought to warn him that the man's father has threatened personal violence against myself.
§ Captain FRASERIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the man's father is a very aged and ill gentleman, and that the suggestion that personal violence has been threatened against him is certainly prejudicial to the case?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSHe should not have sent a post card to my private house.
§ Captain FRASERMay I give notice that I shall be compelled to raise this matter on an early occasion?