§ MR. BIGGARasked Mr. Attorney General, Whether it is true that William M'Donnell was charged before the Birmingham magistrates on May 10th, along with J. Daly and J. F. Egan, for treason felony, and no evidence was adduced against M'Donnell since 1875, and that an application for bail by his solicitor was refused; and, if so, whether the Treasury will offer any opposition to a further application for bail to a Judge in Chambers?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENEEAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)said, he had not had the evidence before him officially, and there- 1472 fore could not say whether the statement in the Question was correct; but he believed it was the case that the evidence against M'Donnell did not come down to a very recent period. As to the application for bail, it was a question for the discretion of the magistrates; but it was very unusual to grant bail in treason-felony cases.