§ DR. TANNERI bog to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the report of the sentence inflicted on a young boy named Thomas Keefe, of Youghal, by Mr. Frank Hodder, R.M., from which it appears that Keefe was convicted on the unsupported evidence of a man named Josh Desmond; whether Mr. Hodder is correctly reported in Cork papers to have stated that he would sentence Keefe to six months' imprisonment with hard labour were it not for his youth; whether he is aware that the offence complained of was Keefe telling a man who spoke to and consulted him about the purchase of some cattle at Midleton Fair that the cattle were the property of a man who had occasioned the arrest of a mutual 159 friend of theirs; and whether an inquiry will be made into the circumstances of the case?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am informed that Keefe is not a young boy. He admitted in Court that he is 17 years of age, and that he was a dealer in cattle on his own account. He was represented by a solicitor at the hearing of the charge. The statement in the third paragraph doss not accurately represent the offence. The man who was intimidated by Keefe from buying Desmond's cattle did not consult Keefe on the subject, nor was an attempt made at the trial to show that Keefe had any previous knowledge of the man. Desmond deposed to these facts in Court and his testimony was unshaken on cross-examination by the solicitor for the defence. No evidence was brought forward on behalf of Keefe. The magistrates, on the evidence produced, ordered Keefe to find bail for his future good behaviour, or, in default, three months' imprisonment. The Court had judicial knowledge of the prevalence of boycotting at Midleton Fair. The presiding magistrate did announce that only for the youth of the defendant, and that it was his first offence, the magistrates would have inflicted a sentence of six months' imprisonment. Keefe has given the required bail.
§ DR. TANNERWas he convicted on the unsupported evidence of Desmond?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have said that Desmond was a witness against him.
§ DR. TANNERThe only witness?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not know; but Desmond's evidence was unshaken on cross-examination.
§ DR. TANNERWas it not the simple fact that the man who wished to purchase the cattle asked the boy Keefe whose cattle they were; that the boy told him; and it was upon that that the charge was made?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThat does not appear to have been the fact, but contrary to the absolute fact.
§ DR. TANNERWhat evidence was there against Keefe except that of Desmond?
§ [No reply.]
§ DR. TANNERThis is positively disgraceful.