§ MR. T. M. HEALY) (Longford, N.asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date did Richard Pigott get permission to visit John Daly in Chatham Prison; when did he pay the visit; was it in presence of warders; and, if not, why not; when had any previous visit been paid to Daly; was the Home Office consulted about, or made aware of, Pigott's visit; how did Daly communicate to Pigott how that he wished to see him; how did he obtain Pigott's address; was Daly entitled to write a letter and receive a visit from Pigott under the prison rules; and, was there any correspondence on the subject at the Home Office?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. MATTHEWS,) Birmingham, E.Richard Pigott got permission to visit John Daly, at Chatham Prison, on the 12th November, 1888. He paid the visit on the 3rd December, 1888, in the presence of Major Clayton, the Deputy Governor of the prison. Daly had been previously visited on the 27th October, 1888, by Mr. Soames, who applied on the 15th October for permission to see Daly, for the purposes of the Parnell Commission. Daly received a visit from Pigott by permission of the Directors of Convict Prisons to visit Daly on private business. Daly was entitled to a visit under the rules, and on being informed of Pigott's application he expressed a wish to be allowed to see him, and permission was accordingly sent to Pigott. Daly did not obtain Pigott's address, 255 but he was allowed to write a letter and to receive a visit about the time that Pigott saw him. The correspondence on the subject was with the Directors of Convict Prisons.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYWere Mr. Soames's visit and Mr. Pigott's visit both within the period prescribed by the rules?
§ MR. MATTHEWSA convict is allowed to write a letter and receive a visit once every three months. Mr. Soames's visit was out of the ordinary course, because it was a solicitor's visit, in a manner that I have explained more than once to the House.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYHas the right hon. Gentleman any objection to lay before the House the correspondence between Mr. Soames and the authorities who gave permission for the visit?
§ MR. MATTHEWSThe hon. and learned Gentleman refers to Mr. Soames's letter of application?
§ MR. T. M. HEALYYes.
§ MR. MATTHEWSI will read Mr. Soames's application, if that will answer the purpose. It is dated the 15th of October, and is as follows:—
Sir,—I beg to apply on behalf of the Defendants in the action of 'O'Donnell v. Walter,' and for the purposes of the Parnell Commission, for an order permitting me to interview John Daly and Gallagher, convicts under sentence of penal servitude for dynamite outrages, and without the usual supervision of a warder.Upon that application permission was given to Mr. Soames to see Daly, but not otherwise than in the presence of the Deputy Governor.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYDid he also see Dr. Gallagher?
§ *MR. MATTHEWSI believe he did. He saw Gallagher on the same day.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYDid the Deputy Governor make any note of the conversation which took place between Dr. Gallagher, John Daly, Mr. Soames, and Richard Pigott; did he make a Report to the Home Office; and are the Reports available to Members of this House?
§ *MR. MATTHEWSI have no doubt the Deputy Governor did make a Report direct either to his superior or to the Director of Convict Prisons. If the hon. Member puts his question on the Paper I will consider it.
§ MR. J. MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-TyneThe other day the right hon. Gentleman drew a distinction between 256 a warder being present at an interview with a prisoner and being within hearing. Was the Deputy Governor within hearing at these interviews?
§ *MR. MATTHEWSYes; I think he was.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether Dr. Gallagher and John Daly were informed in advance of the intention of the Times solicitor to visit them, and did they accede to the visit?
§ *MR. MATTHEWSI must ask for notice of that question.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYIs it to be clearly understood that the solicitors for the other side are to be allowed the same freedom of access to prisoners in a convict prison?
§ *MR. MATTHEWSThe same treatment and the same method of action will be adopted precisely with all solicitors who apply on any legitimate business to see prisoners.