§ 29. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Mr. Arnold Johnson Ross, after discovery that he was innocent of the charge on which he had been convicted to three months' imprisonment, was nevertheless remanded on bail; what amount of bail was required; and by whom it was provided or guaranteed.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the only way of liberating an innocent man from gaol is to issue another warrant remanding him on bail and, in effect, putting him on trial for the same offence before the same magistrate?
§ Mr. EdeI have made some inquiries into this matter and, although I have no responsibility, I would like, as a matter of courtesy to the House, to say that the chief magistrate tells me that on hearing by telephone from the prosecutor's father that the wallet had been found, he was most anxious to secure the immediate release of Mr. Ross until the matter could be dealt with by him on the following day, after the hearing of fresh evidence on oath. To do this, a remand was necessary to secure Mr. Ross's attendance in court. He was accordingly released on his own bail, with no surety on the direction of the chief magistrate to appear next day at Bow Street.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonI beg to give notice that in view of what I regard as an ugly stain on the administration of justice I will endeavour to raise this matter again.