§ MR. WHALLEYasked the Secretary to the Treasury, with reference to the Return made of the Tichborne Prosecution Expenses, pursuant to Order that such Return should give details according to precedents in other cases, Whether he will be good enough to state why no details whatever are given, especially the names of witnesses retained on the part of the prosecution, but not called; why the precedent of the Welsh fasting girl and the Phoenix Park prosecution have not been followed; and, to name the cases, if any, in which such Return has been refused?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHI have already informed the hon. Gentleman that the information contained in the Return is all the information which, in the judgment of the Government, should be furnished. There is no precedent, except in the case of the Welsh fasting girl, for giving any further information, and in that case the departure from precedent which was made was afterwards admitted to be an error, and one that ought not to be repeated. The information given in the Phoenix Park case was similar to that given in the case to which the hon. Member refers.
§ MR. WHALLEYWill the hon. Gentleman name any case in which the information has been refused?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHI have already stated, Sir, that there is no case in which it has been given.