§ Mr. FETHERSTONHAUGHasked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to a prosecution at Lee by the London County Council against a trader called Cannell, which resulted in his conviction, although the evidence of Miss Whelpton, the inspector, showed that the shop was duly closed and the door locked, that she caused defendant to open it by knocking at the locked door and then bought a pair of gloves from him, and relied on her own conduct as proving a breach of the law; and, as an agent provocateur is in the position of an informer and requires corroboration, which in this case was not forthcoming, will he inquire into the case with a view to pardon or annulment of the conviction which was obtained by such means?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have made inquiry in the case and find the offence was admitted by the defendant. I am informed by the London County Council that action was taken in consequence of a complaint that it was the practice of the occupier, after closing his shop, to evade the law by serving any customers who knocked at the shop door. The sentence was moderate and there is no ground for intervention on my part.