The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-30 00:00:00

CASE OF MR. WILLIAM BEWICKE.

Mr. H. BERKELEY moved that this house, upon
Monday next, resolve itself into a committee to consider an
address to her Majesty, praying that her Majesty would be
graciously pleased to direct adequate compensation to be
made to Wm. Bewicke, Threepwood Hall, Northumberland,
for the pain, &gradation, anguish of mind, and consequent
ill-health: he has suffered, in beieg confined for 12 months
in a prison as a felon, on a charge since proved to be false;
for the Gonfiscation of his gcods,chsttels, family pictures, plate,
and library, thus inflicting upon him an irreparable injury;
also for the heavy pecuniary loss he had suffered in prose-
cuting and bringing to justice the persons who had con-
spired against him, such having been the only means by
which eventually he was enabled tc establish his inno-
cence ; and that this house is prepared to assure
her Majesty that it will make good the same.
The hon. member detailed the principal facts of the case,
with which the public are already familiar. Mr. Bewicke
went into prison a strong robust man, and came out broken
in spirit and constitution. He complained of the terms of
the order by which Mr Bewicke was liberated, stating that
he was pardoned. If the term pardon must be retained in
such orders it should be that the judge and jury should be
pardoned for the blunder they had committed. He denounced
in the strongest manner the treatment which Mr. Bewicke
had received, and said that his legal expenses amounted to
between £2,000 and £3,000, while he lost by the forced sale
of his furniture no less than £BO per cent. A mosaic table,
which Mr Bewicke procured from Italy, and for which he
paid £lOO, was sold for £l7, and a valuable library contain-
ing, the works of Racine and Moliere was sold for the price
of waste paper. He concluded by an earnest appeal to the
House to redress the grievances of which Mr. Bewicke so
justly complained. (Cheers.)
Sir G. GREY said that he must object to the motion,
notwithstanding that it excited his sympathy, and he
asked the house seriously to consider the question raised
by this motion, which involved a most important principle.
Mr. Bewicke had defended an action agairst him, and the
Sheriff of Northumberland had to enforce the costs of it.
He employed his officers, and he (Sir G. Grey) would make
inquiries into the statement of the character of these men.
Ho defended the conduct of the magistrates and the
judge and jury, who had no other course than to convict Mr.
Bewicke on evidence which bad been adduced on the trial.
When a petition was presented to him on behalf of Mr.
Bewicke, he adopted the usual course and referred it to
the judge who heard the eats., and who repeated the
statement he made at the trial as to his entire
concurrence in the verdict of the jury. With regard to the
Palo of the furniture, every attempt was made by
the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital to induce
Mr. Bewicke's family to adopt means to prevent the removal
of his furniture, but without success, and they had no
other course to pursue but to put up the fu►niture to pub-
lic sale. He regretted that Mr. Bewicke should have de-
fended himself instead of employing counsel, who would
have sifted the evidence, and perhaps exposed the character
of the witnesses, on whose evidence he was convicted. If
they were to affirm the principle of this motion they would
go to the extent of deciding that in every case there
should be compensation where there had been
an erroneous conviction. This was a subject
that required great consideration, and was too important to
be settled by the circumstances of a particular case. With
regard to compensation that was another matter, and as
Mr. Bewicke said property worth £1,500 was sold for £lOO,
he would not object to an inquiry into the subject. (Hear,
hear.)
Lord J. MANNERS supported the motion, and con-
demned the line of argument adopted by the Home Secre-
tary.
After a few words from Mr. INaHAM and Mr. LIDDELL,

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL objected to the motion,
that it would create a very inconvenient precedent, and said
that Mr. Bewicke had been unfortunate in omitting to re-
tain either attorney or counsel to defend him on his trial.
Mr. G. HARDY intimated that if the Government would
consent to a committee of inquiry he would support them
in resisting the motion; but he thought the terms of re-
ference ought to be general, and include the whole of the
allegations in Mr. Bewicke's petition.
Mr. DISRAELI characterised the case as one of infa-
mous oppression, contended that the arguments of the
Home Secretary were inconsistent, urged that the case
must be decided upon its merits, and advised Mr. Berkeley
to stand by his motion.
The house then divided, and the numbers were—
For going into committee of supply llB
Against it .. l2O
Majority against Government .. —2
The result was hailed with vehement cheering, and a
great number of members immediately left the house.

Sir G. GREY then moved as an amendment that a select
committee be appointed to consider the petition of Mr.
Bewicke, and to report its opinion as to whether he was en-
titled to any and what compensation.
Mr. DISRAELI regarded this proposition as intended so
rescind the vote which the house had just come to.
Mr. BERKELEY declined acceding to the amendment,
which, he agreed with Mr. Disraeli, was an endeavour to
upset the vote.
Mr. lIORSMAN also complained that the amendment
had taken the house by surprise, and blamed the Govern-
ment for pursuing an unusual and unparliamentary course;
but

Sir G. GREY denied that his motion was unparlia.
mentary.

The house again divided, and the amendment for appoint-
ing a select committee was carried by 148 to 100.

CHIMNEY CLIMBING BOYS.

Mr. D. SEYMOUR directed attention to the extensive
employment of climbing boys in sweeping chimneys, and
the systematic violation of the Act for the Regulation of
Chimney Sweepers and Chimneys, and inquired whether
the Government intended to bring in smy bill during the
present session founded on the recommendations of the
children's employment commission.

Sir G. GREY admitted that the report of the commis-
sioners fully justified the statement that the law was exten-
sively violated. The attention of Government had been
directed especially to that portion of the report which re-
lated to climbing boys, and they intended rendering their
assistance to Lord Shaftesbury in passing the measire of
which he had given notice.
Among the other questions discussed on the motion that
the Speaker should leave the chair, were the Retiring Pen-
sions of Colonial Governors, the Museum for Inventions,
and the Patent Office.
PRIVILEGE.

Mr. B. OSBORNE—Sir, I protest against the chair
being taken in this way. It is a bleach of common cour-
tesy ; soy hen friend the member for Buckingham (Sir H.
Verney) got up to address the Speaker. In all the course
of my parliamentary experience I never saw this done.
put to the house it this can be permitted. It appears to me
that we are to be treated like the Conference, and be ad.
journed sine die. (Laughter.) I move that the chairman
report progress and ask leave to sit again.
Sir G. GREY—I think that any observation of this kind
ought to be made when the Speaker is in the chair.
Mr. B. OSBORNE—Why, the Speaker ran away I
(Laughter.)
Sir G. GREY—I heard the Speaker put the question.
The motion which the hon. member has made I had already
made, for I had moved that you report progress and ask
leave to sit again.

Sir H. VERNEY—As soon as the last speaker had
finished his address I rose, and before the Speaker left the
chair I got up and addressed him.

Mr. AYRTON—I think it very inconvenient to report
prof ese; the proceedings which have taktp placP must be