asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If he will explain the circumstances of the Countess de Civry, who was recently convicted for obtaining goods under false pretences, receiving an unconditional pardon for the offence and being set at liberty?

, in reply, said, the Countess de Civry had been tried before Mr. Commissioner Kerr on an indictment containing 12 counts. On 11 of those counts the Commissioner found that there was really no evidence to go to the jury. The 12th count was one of obtaining goods under false pretences by pretending to occupy a house in Queensberry Place, and the learned Judge was so dissatisfied with the verdict that he decided not to pass sentence until full inquiries had been made. These inquiries having been made, it turned out that the statement alleged had nothing to do with the reasons which led the shopkeeper to supply the goods, the fact being that there had been a running credit between the parties for some time. Under these circumstances the case had fallen through.