The SPEAKER took the chair at three o'clock.
SIR CHARLES WARREN'S RESIGNATION.
Replying to Mr. Cuninghame Graham and Mr. Pickersgill,
Mr. MATTHEWS said he presumed Sir Charles Warren's published letter referred to the voluminous departmental and confidential correspondence which had taken place between the Home Office and Scotland-yard. It was unusual to lay correspondence of that kind on the table, especially as a part of it was altogether confidential. He might, however, state generally that he knew of no occasion on which he had given Sir Charles Warren directions which were either apparently or really contrary to statute. If hon. gentlemen would ask a question on any specific point as to which it was suggested that he had done so he would inform the House as fully as public duty would permit the actual directions given. Hon. gentlemen would then be able to form their own judgement.
Mr. CUNINGHAME GRAHAM asked how it was possible for him to ask a more specific question, inasmuch as the details were known only to Sir Charles Warren and to the Home Secretary. (Hear, hear.) The Home Secretary smiled, but he assured him this was no laughing matter. It involved the death of three Englishmen in London - (order) - and he should like to know who was responsible for it. (Order.)
Mr. CONYBEARE inquired whether the correspondence might not be laid before Parliament, having regard to the fact that the whole of the circumstances were altogether unusual.
Mr. MATTHEWS said he did not think it necessary.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET. - ASSAULT ON A WOMAN. - Joseph Zimmer, a cabinet maker, was brought up for assaulting Lena Miller, at their lodgings in Whitfield-street, at an early hour on Tuesday morning. - Mr. Hannay said it was too serious a case for him to merely bind over the prisoner. He had used a poker, and had inflicted a wound, and that could not be overlooked. - The woman still begged hard for her "husband" to be forgiven. - Their little boy was called, but he did not improve matters, and Mr. Hannay said that the least sentence he could impose would be a month's hard labour. - The woman and her boy left the court crying.
HAMMERSMITH. - CRUELTY TO A CHILD. - John Conway, a labourer, living in Brook-green-place, Hammersmith, was accused of assaulting his daughter, Alice Conway, aged seven years. - The child, who had a severe bruise on the right side of the head, was led forward to give evidence, but the magistrate thought she was too young to be sworn. - Annie Conway was recalled, and said her father had threatened her mother with "Jack the Ripper." - Mr. Curtis-Bennett committed the prisoner for two months with hard labour.
