MR. O'BRIENasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is a fact that four respectable farmers were arrested, near Killarney, under the Crimes Act, for alleged intimidation in connection with the Poor Law Elections in the Killarney Union; whether he is aware that the late Chief Secretary for Ireland gave as a reason for not prosecuting landlords against whom charges of a similar character were preferred, that the Crimes Act was not intended to apply to intimidation in connection with Poor Law elections; and, if so, by whoso authority these men were arrested, how long they were retained in custody, and why they were not summoned, as were the men charged with 839 the attack upon two sisters of mercy in Londonderry lately?
§ MR. CAMPBELL - BANNERMANIt is not true that four respectable farmers were arrested for intimidation under the Crimes Act in connection with this Poor Law election. At 5 o'clock on the morning of the 20th instant, a party of men visited the houses of two men named Kissane and Coffey, and broke a window in each. They entered Kis-sane's house by force, and compelled Mrs. Kissane, on her knees, under threat of death, to give up a voting paper. Three farmers and a labourer were arrested on suspicion of being of the party; but after being detained eleven hours were discharged by the Resident Magistrate, identification having failed. The arrests were made under the ordinary law.