§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
THE EARL OF MILLTOWN, in moving that the Bill be now road a second time, said, the object of the measure was to extend the summary jurisdiction now exercised by magistrates in cases of assault committed upon the police while in the execution of their duty to cases of obstructing the police under similar circumstances. By an anomaly in the present law, charges of the most grievous assault upon the police could be disposed of summarily by the magistrates; whereas the slightest case of obstructing a constable in the execution of his duty must be dealt with as a misdemeanour and sent to the Quarter Session, a proceeding which was attended with considerable expense, and which inflicted great hardships on prisoners. This Bill would correct this anomaly.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a." —(The Earl of Milltown.)
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next.