§ DR. KENEALYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether Mrs. Mina Jury, a witness for the prosecution in the case of the Queen 548 v. Castro, is the same person as Merci-vena Caulfield, who was convicted in Dublin, at the Commission Court holden on Thursday June 24th 1847, before two of Her Majesty's judges, for stealing a large quantity of wearing apparel, and was then sentenced to seven years transportation; and, if so, whether the Treasury was aware of the fact when she was produced as a witness against the claimant; and, whether he will state the whole amount of money paid by the prosecution to the said Mina Jury?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, he had made inquiries at the Home Office and the Treasury with regard to the matter, and he found that neither the Department of the Secretary of State nor the Solicitor to the Treasury had any knowledge whatever whether Mrs. Mina Jury was or was not the same person as Mercivena Caulfield; and that the first and only intimation the Treasury had had of any allegation that she was the same person was contained in the Question of the hon. Member. He had directed further inquiries to be made. Whilst the Government had no desire to conceal anything that had been done with regard to the expenses of the prosecution, the House had already determined on a division not to order a Return of the amounts paid to the witnesses in the case.
§ DR. KENEALYgave Notice that on an early day he should call attention to the subject of his Question.