§ SIR JOHN GRAYsaid, that as he wished to make a statement on the subject of the Question he had upon the Paper, to call the attention of the Government to the observations reported to have been made by Mr. Justice Keogh, one of Her Majesty's Justices of the Queen's Bench in Ireland, at the Assize Court of the county of Tyrone on Friday last, with reference to the conduct of certain Justices of the Peace for that county, and the alleged consequent failure of justice; and to ask whether any and what steps have been taken by the Irish Executive or the Lord Chancellor for Ireland to institute a full inquiry into the facts of the case and the conduct of the Magistrates referred to, he would postpone his Question till the Motion for going into Supply.
MAJOR STUART KNOXsaid, he would appeal to the hon. Member to further postpone the discussion of the subject. He himself was one of the bench of magistrates whose conduct was impugned; and though he was not present on the occasion, yet he knew very well that every one of his brother magistrates were persons of the highest character. ["Order, order!"]
§ MR. SPEAKERexplained to the hon. Member that he was out of order in discussing a Question which was not properly before the House.
MAJOR STUART KNOXsaid, he hoped that the hon. Member's sense of justice would induce him to postpone the Motion, in order that he (Major Stuart Knox) might have time to procure the necessary information from Tyrone, which he was sure would enable him to refute every word alleged against the magistrates.
§ SIR JOHN GRAYsaid, that as his only wish was to ascertain whether justice had been done, he had no objection to postpone the Question till Thursday, when he would put it on going into Committee of Supply.