§ 74. Dr. Summerskillasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of Mrs. Nora Morrison, mother of 10 children, who was sentenced within two weeks of her last confinement to one month's imprisonment, together with her baby, for receiving food stolen by her daughter from her place of employment; and whether, in view of the fact that no woman is fit during the early post-natal period to exercise proper control over her children, will he order Mrs. Morrison's immediate discharge?
§ Sir S. HoareI am informed that the facts of this case are that Mrs. Morrison admitted that she encouraged her daughter, aged 18, to steal fruit and vegetables from her employer and that the thefts continued over a period of some two months, the value of the property stolen amounting to£5. The offence was accordingly of a serious character, but the Mayor of Sunderland, who presided over the court which sentenced Mrs. Morrison, has been in communication with me and has represented that, while it was his duty as a magistrate to take a serious view of systematic thieving of this kind, there are circumstances in this case which would justify the exercise of clemency. I have accordingly decided to recommend the remission of the remainder of the sentence and have authorised Mrs. Morrison's immediate release.