HC Deb 02 November 1916 vol 86 c1856W
Sir ALFRED GELDER

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the sentence of ten years' penal servitude passed upon Private Robert Edward Gunthorpe, No. 13839, 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, for striking Corporal Walter Powell, Military Staff Corps, on 24th August, 1916, who was at that time engaged in the assisting of distribution of prisoners to their work, and also of using threatening language to his superior officer on the same date; and whether, having regard to the term of the sentence, he will have the case reconsidered with a view to reducing the same?

Mr. FORSTER

No, Sir; in view of the serious nature of the offence for which this man was tried and convicted and of his previous bad record, I see no ground for reconsidering or reducing the sentence.