§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of a young man named Stokes, who was sentenced to six months' imprisonment at Wolverhampton, on a charge of stealing some articles of luggage; whether he is aware that a fortnight ago the conviction was quashed and the man was liberated from prison, his innocence having been established; whether he is also aware that the man served three weeks in prison and has also lost his employment; and whether, under the circumstances, any compensation can be given to him for this miscarriage of justice?
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§ Mr. McKENNAMy attention has been called to the case, and the facts are as stated in the question, except that the terms of the judgment of the Court of Criminal Appeal are not such as to warrant the belief that the Court regarded the appellant's innocence as established. It has always been held that the reversal of a conviction on appeal does not afford any ground for compensation from public funds, and I fear there is nothing in the facts of this case to justify any departure from that principle.