§ Mr. Patonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give for England and Wales for 1949, the number of murders known to the police; the number of suspected murderers who 122W committed suicide; the number of persons charged with murder and the number of those so charged who were found unfit to plead or guilty but insane; the number convicted of murder and sentenced to death; the number charged with murder and acquitted; and the numbers of those convicted who were reprieved and executed, respectively.
§ Mr. EdeThe provisional figures show that 135 murders were known to the police during 1949; that 34 suspected murderers committed suicide; and that 65 persons were charged with murder. Of these 65 persons, 13 were found insane on arraignment and unfit to plead; 12 were found guilty but insane; 31 were convicted of murder; six were acquitted; and three were awaiting trial at the end of the year. Of the 31 convicted of murder, two were ordered to be detained during His Majesty's Pleasure and 29 were sentenced to death. Of these 29, 13 were executed and 12 were reprieved, and in four cases a final decision had not been taken by the end of the year.