§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Home Secretary whether he has now made inquiries into the case of Samuel Thomas Lewis, who was sentenced to two months' imprisonment at the last Carmarthen Assizes for making a false statement relative to the age of his dog; and whether any remission of the sentence has been possible in this case?
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§ Sir J. GILMOUR:I have now had an opportunity of ascertaining the facts of this case. I am informed that Lewis was convicted at the Carmarthen Assizes on a charge of perjury, and was sentenced to two months' imprisonment. The charge to which he pleaded guilty arose out of statements on oath which were made by the accused in the course of proceedings against him for keeping a dog without a licence, and these statements were persisted in after specific warning that if found to be incorrect they might involve proceedings for perjury. I can find no ground which would justify me, consistently with my public duty, in advising any remission of the sentence imposed.