§ 7. Mr. SUMMERSBYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that on or about 5th May, 1932, the Governor of Wandsworth Prison received a confession from a man named Hoye, admitting that he had committed the crime for which Henry Kendall, of 43, Goldsmith Row, Shoreditch, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment in April, 1932; whether he has verified this confession; and what action he is taking in the matter?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Gilmour)Kendall was convicted at the Central Criminal Court on the 10th March, 1932, on two separate charges. In respect of the first charge, that of receiving a motor car and storebreaking, he was sentenced to five years' penal servitude. In respect of the second charge, that of robbery with violence, he was sentenced to three years' penal servitude to run concurrently with the sentence of five years' penal servitude, and he was also ordered to receive 12 strokes with the cat. Statements to the effect mentioned in the question have been received in respect of the second charge and were carefully investigated, but my predecessor found no grounds for any action on his part. The case has again been reviewed, but I can find no reason for differing from the view taken by my predecessor.
§ Mr. SUMMERSBYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this man has a paralysed arm and was sentenced for committing robbery with violence, and will he give me the opportunity of privately putting some facts before him?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI shall always be prepared to consider any facts which the hon. Member places before me.