§ 26. Mr. Muffasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the acquittal of Jesse Peel, of Fewston, on a serious charge; and whether he will recommend that compensation be granted to Mr. Peel in order to help him to pay the expenses he has incurred?
§ Sir S. HoareI know of no circumstances to differentiate this case from other cases where after the justices have decided that the defendant should be committed for trial, the trial results in an acquittal. While sympathy must be felt for any innocent person who may be placed on trial, the fact that a defendant is acquitted is not a ground on which payment can be made from public funds.
§ Mr. MuffIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this man had to use the whole of his savings and was not able to take advantage of the Poor Persons Defence Act; and in view of these circumstances may I ask him to give sympathetic reconsideration to this case?
§ Sir S. HoareI am afraid that I cannot give an undertaking of that kind. This man was committed by the justices and was acquitted. In a case of this kind no question of an ex gratia payment can arise.