§ 13. Lieut.-Colonel Cordeauxasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will recommend the grant of a free pardon to Harold Graham Dunsmore, 15 Clarence Street, Nottingham, who was released from Rochester Borstal on his instructions on 9th May.
§ Mr. BrookeNo, Sir. It would be contrary to long established practice to make such a recommendation in such circumstances as existed in this case.
§ Lieut.-Colonel CordeauxAs this young man was convicted of being in unlawful possession of three separate objects, and as subsequent investigation showed that he was in lawful possession of two of them, and the only possible evidence in connection with the third one supported his story that he had found the particular object—which was worth very little, in any case—would not my right hon. Friend agree that the young man's whole story ought to be believed? In that case, would he not think it a very obvious case for the recommendation of a free pardon, particularly as this young man has now served a sentence in a prison or borstal of six months for this offence and, for some astonishing reason, he was refused legal aid at the time of his appeal?
§ Mr. BrookeNo, Sir. I admire the trouble that my hon. and gallant Friend has taken on behalf of this young man, but no one knows how the young man became the owner of the third of these objects. First of all, he said that he had bought it from a friend in Leeds. Later, he said that he had bought it from a friend in London. At his trial, he said that he had bought it from a friend in Nottingham. Subsequently, he said that 1233 he had found it. I really cannot accept this as the kind of clear evidence needed before a free pardon is granted—that he was, beyond question, in lawful possession of the object.
§ Lieut.-Colonel CordeauxOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker, In view of the unsatisfactory nature of my right hon. Friend's Answer, I should like your leave to raise the matter later on the Adjournment.