§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)I beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether Mr. C. J. Harold, one of the Justices who were trying the case against Captain Rye at Crookstown, County Cork, has been and still is employed by Captain Rye as bailiff or agent; and, if so, whether an intimation will be conveyed to him not to take any further part in the case in which there are four other magistrates-adjudicating?
§ MR. MADDENI have called for a Report upon this matter, but have not yet received it. I must, therefore, ask the hon. Member to defer the question.
§ DR. TANNERAs the matter is one of great interest, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman deign to afford me information to-morrow?
§ MR. MADDENCertainly, if I have received it.
§ DR. TANNERI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, as President of the Irish Local Government Board, whether hisattention has been directed to the action of Mr. John Rye at the Bandon Board of Guardians, and if it is correctly reported that Mr. Rye endeavoured to prevent the poor labourer, Jeremiah Corcoran, from obtaining out-door relief; whether he is aware that it was proved that Mr. Rye's object was to oblige Corcoran to take the bribe of 7s. weekly made by Captain Rye, now on his trial for shooting Corcoran; and that medical evidence was given the Board in support of Cor-coran's claim; and whether the Local Government Board intend to take any action in the matter?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am informed that it is the case that at the meeting of the Board of Guardians Mr. John Rye 277 did state that if Corcoran required more than the 7s. a week offered by Captain Rye it would be given, as the latter did not wish that the man should be a charge upon the rates. The assertion in the second paragraph was made by a member of the Board, but was repudiated by Mr. John Rye. Medical evidence was given in the case. The Board decided to continue the allowance of 5s. a week sanctioned at their previous meeting. The Local Government Board are not aware of anything in the matter calling for action on their part.
§ DR. TANNERAm I to understand from the right hon. Gentleman that the reports which appear in all the Cork newspapers, to the effect that Mr. John Rye said that Captain Rye had offered this man 7s. a week, and that there was, therefore, no necessity for granting him out-door relief, are not correct?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have not seen the reports in the Cork papers.
§ DR. TANNERWas not this money deliberately offered to Corcoran on behalf of Captain Rye, as a bribe, after having fired at him twice, not to give evidence against him?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have given the hon. Member all the information that has readied me. I understand there was no question of a bribe, nor am I aware that Captain Rye fired twice. That is the very question at issue.
MR. P. O'BRIENWas it not stated before Mr. Cecil Roche that the man had been tampered with; and did not Mr. Cecil Roche adjourn the Court so that he might have the man brought before him in order to ascertain whether he had been tampered with?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI must ask the hon. Member to defer that question.
§ DR. TANNERI will take the opportunity of raising the question of this discreditable transaction on the Vote for the administration of law and justice.