§ CAPTAIN HARRISasked whether the law, as it now stood, would enable Her Majesty's Government to bring to trial those priests whose denunciations from the altar had been immediately followed by the death of the victims? In case of the answer being in the negative, he wished to know whether Her Majesty's Government would ask for measures—
§ MR. JOHN O'CONNELLrose to order. He wished to know whether it were competent for an hon. Member to ask a question which inferred a calumny, and was based upon an unproved charge.
§ MR. SPEAKERThe question is a perfectly regular one.
§ CAPTAIN HARRISresumed. In the case of the first question being answered in the negative, he wished to ask, whether the Ministry intended to strengthen the law in that respect, so as to enable them to deal with those who, by moral influence over their congregations, had incited and encouraged crime.
The ATTORNEY GENERALwas obliged to the hon. Member for the notice of his questions which he had given. He was not able to answer, with respect to any particular case which might have been set forth by the newspapers; but, so far as the general question went, he could very safely say, that if any person was proved guilty of inciting and abetting murder, that he might be tried for the offence, and on proper evidence convicted.