§ 58. Dr. Donald Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that on 30th October, 1948, Mr. John James of Stone-house, Little Aston Park, Sutton Cold-field, was sentenced to three months imprisonment at Birmingham Central Police Court and did not regain his liberty until five years later when he escaped from St. Andrew's Mental Hospital. Northampton; and if he will state the particulars of his offence and give the authority under which Mr. James was detained for so disproportionate a time to that of his sentence.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeMr. James was bound over to be of good behaviour for twelve months in the sum of £50 and ordered to find sureties in £25 each with the alternative of three months' imprisonment. He was unable to find the requisite sureties and was committed to prison, where on 8th December, 1948, he was certified insane by two legally qualified medical practitioners and was removed to Winson Green Mental Hospital under a warrant of removal made under Section 2 of the Criminal Lunatics Act, 1884. On 3rd January, 1949, an order was made by a justice of the peace under Section 7 (2) of the Act for his detention as a Health Service patient on the expiry of his sentence. On the application of his father an order was made on 4th March, 1949, under Section 59 of the Lunacy Act, 1890. for his transfer to St. Andrew's Hospital, Northampton.