§ MR. GREENEsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is true, Murphy, 125 the Protestant lecturer, was taken into custody on Monday the 14th, previous to the meeting at Birmingham on the Irish Church Question; if so, whether he will object to lay upon the Table a Copy of the information on which he was arrested, showing the charge preferred against him; whether any investigation has taken place; and, under what Act of Parliament he was arrested?
MR. BRUCEsaid, in reply, that he had notice of the hon. Member's Question only that morning when the Paper was delivered, and he had not been able to communicate with the Mayor of Birmingham in order to obtain the information which the hon. Gentleman desired. All he knew about the arrest of this person, whom the hon. Member designated by the name of the ''Protestant lecturer," was derived from the newspapers, from which it appeared that he was prevented from attending a public meeting, the case was heard before the magistrates and dismissed, and it was added that he was about to bring an action against the Mayor for a false arrest. He was unable to say under what Act of Parliament Mr. Murphy was arrested.