§ Mr. BOWERMANasked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to the case of a taxi-cab driver named Bender, who, on 15th July, was charged with causing obstruction in Argyll Street, W., and on whose behalf four 742W independent witnesses attended at the Police Court and denied the constable's statement that there were any cabs on the rank at the time, and asserted that the only cab in the street was the one driven by Bender; and whether, inasmuch as in spite of the evidence tendered the taxicab driver was convicted by the magistrate, although no penalty was imposed, he will cause inquiry to be made into the matter with a view to the conviction being quashed and the constable dealt with in some way?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have made inquiry in the case and am informed by the magistrate that he was satisfied by the evidence that the defendant had caused obstruction and that the witnesses he called to prove the contrary had not had their attention directed to the matter in dispute until too late to enable them to give relevant evidence. He came to the conclusion that the police officer was doing his duty in good faith and with a desire to be fair to all parties, but that the charge might properly be dismissed under the Probation of Offenders Act. There was no conviction, and I see no reason for action on my part.