§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)I desire to ask the Home Secretary a Question about the disappearance of Mr. Pigott. I wish to ask him whether he or the authorities at Scotland Yard have taken any steps to secure the apprehension of that person? I further wish to ask him whether Pigott, or any other witnesses engaged for the Times, were under protection from Scotland Yard; if so, I desire to know how it was that Pigott was allowed to escape from this country?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI have only just learned from the newspapers that the Court constituted last year has issued a warrant for the apprehension of Mr. Pigott. That warrant, no doubt, will be put in the hands of the police, and I have no doubt the police will use their utmost endeavours to execute it.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYThat is not an answer to my Question. I asked, in the first instance, was this gentleman or any other of the Times witnesses under surveillance by the London police; and, if so, whether any steps were taken, in the interests of what is called justice, to see that this man and persons of his kidney should be kept here to answer before the Commission any questions that may be put to them?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI am not aware that any witnesses subpoenaed by the Times newspaper were under the surveillance of the police. If the hon. Gentleman wishes any further information on the subject I will make inquiries; 385 but I am not aware of anything on the subject now.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYI wish to ask whether, in view of the importance of this witness Pigott, the Government have taken any steps to close the ports against him by telegraphing to the police authorities at those places?
§ [No answer.]
§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)I beg to ask, as some of the witnesses have sworn that they were under protection, whether it would be the duty of the officers charged with that protection to make any report to the Home Secretary in the event of any of the persons they were protecting disappearing; and whether any such report has been made to the right hon. Gentleman in the case of Mr. Pigott?
§ MR. MATTHEWSNo report whatever has reached me with respect to Mr. Pigott. I understood the Question of the hon. Member for North Longford (Mr. T. M. Healy) to refer not to protection, but to surveillance—watching. ["No, no!"] I certainly so understood him If the man in question was protected, I have no personal knowledge of it, and no report has been made to me of any witness requiring protection. Still, I do not deny that some witnesses may have been under protection.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYWill the right hon. Gentleman answer my Question—Has any attempt been made to capture Pigott? He is a very valuable person. I have to ask the right hon. Gentleman, as the representative of justice—British justice—in this House, whether he will be kind enough to state what attempt, if any, has been made to close the ports against Pigott?
§ MR. MATTHEWSThe knowledge that Mr. Pigott has disappeared reached me about an hour ago. In that interval I have personally taken no steps; but I can assure hon. Members that both the Government and the authorities of Scotland Yard will do their utmost to prevent Mr. Pigott escaping.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHMay I ask, with reference to the officers charged with the protection of Mr. Pigott, whether the right hon. Gentleman will call on those officers for some special report as to the time and place when he disappeared?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI am not aware that any officer of the Metropolitan Police had Pigott under his protection.
§ MR. DILLON (Mayo. E)Perhaps the Chief Secretary can say whether any detectives from Ireland were charged with looking after him? I do think we are entitled to have from the Government some definite statement that they will not only endeavour to prevent Pigott's escape from London, but from Great Britain, and that they will exercise themselves at least to the same extent as they would do if they were trying to apprehend any one of us.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURAll hon. Gentlemen must be aware that I have nothing to do with the management of the police in London. As far as I know, no protection was afforded Mr. Pigott. If any efforts of mine can conduce to the capture of that gentleman they certainly shall be made.
§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)May I ask the Home Secretary whether, now that the absconding of the Times witnesses has commenced, he will take precautions to prevent any other of the witnesses leaving the country, particularly Houston and a few others?
§ No answer was returned.
§ SIR W. HARCOURT (Derby)I want to ask the Chief Secretay whether he is aware that an Irish police sergeant in plain clothes was called to-day by the Attorney General to give an account of Mr. Pigott, having been residing at the same hotel with him, and I have also to ask under what instructions, and under whose orders, that sergeant of the police was there?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have no information on the point. I was not even aware that the incident to which the right hon. Gentleman alludes occurred in Court. If the right hon. Gentleman will put a Question on the paper I will make inquiries.