§ MR. O'SULLIVANasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is true that a man named Lee was brought before the magistrates at the Petty Sessions Court at Newcastle, county Limerick, on the 11th inst. for whistling in the streets of that 888 town, and what decision the magistrates came to on the case; and, if any complaint has been made of the conduct of Head Constable Copeland by the people of that district?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, the hon. Member asked whether a lad had been brought up in Newcastle, in county Limerick, for "whistling," and what was the decision in the case. The magistrates dismissed the case. He (Mr. W. E. Forster) did not object; but really if he was asked Questions about every case in which punishment was or was not awarded, he would have a good many Questions to answer. No complaint was made of Head Constable Copeland. It seemed there wore a number of young men in Newcastle, who were banded together, and called themselves "Black Diamonds," who were given to annoying people in the streets. Their principal misconduct consisted in tarring shutters, breaking glass, and assaulting the police. Patrick Lee, the lad in question, was one of a gang, and followed some of the police, and annoyed them by whistling some objectionable air. The magistrates entered no rule in the case, and he thought they did quite right. Of course, if these "Black Diamonds" did make themselves a nuisance, they would have to be put down; but he thought the police might have found some better case to proceed upon than that of whistling.
§ MR. O'SULLIVANasked, amid much interruption, whether any outrages were proved to have been committed by these boys?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, he did not know; but he thought there wore offences committed by them; but he supposed they were not caught.
§ MR. M'COANWere these offences classed as agrarian outrages in the Bo-turns?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERCertainly not.