§ Mr. TOUCHEasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the case of the four men, Gordon, Harris, Hickson, and Willis, who are serving sentences of penal servitude in connection with a highway robbery; whether he is aware that the jury disagreed on the first trial, that the prisoners have never ceased to protest their innocence, and that two men have confessed to be principals in the transaction, both of whom allege that neither of the prisoners convicted were concerned in any way; and whether, leave having been refused to appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeal, he will direct an independent inquiry to be made into the matter?
§ Mr. McKENNAI shall be prepared to consider any facts that may be brought to my notice in connection with this case and which were not before the Court of Criminal Appeal; but it is primarily for that Court to determine whether any doubt as to the justice of the verdict exists, and at present I am not aware of any ground for action on my part.