§ 62. Dr. SALTERasked the Home Secretary whether a free pardon has been issued to Mr. Jacob Peter Van Dyn or whether he has been only temporarily liberated from custody and is liable to re-arrest; and whether he is to be compensated?
§ Sir H. SAMUELAfter his conviction and sentence Van Dyn applied to the Court of Criminal Appeal for leave to appeal against his conviction, but within a few days withdrew that application. About a month later he sent in a long petition to the Secretary of State asserting his innocence and reasserting the alibi which he had put forward in court. 1863 Searching investigations were then made by the police and by my advisers, as a result of which additional information was brought to light. After consultation with the learned Recorder, before whom Van Dyn was convicted, I felt justified, having regard to all the circumstances, in recommending the absolute remission of the remainder of Van Dyn's sentence of seven years' penal servitude, and, in accordance with my instructions, the Governor of Dartmoor Prison told him that he was leaving the prison as a free man and not as a convict on licence. If he so desires, it is open to him to apply to the Court of Criminal Appeal for an extension of time within which to appeal against his conviction. The reply to the last part of the question is in the negative.