HC Deb 12 July 1881 vol 263 cc638-9
MR. O'SULLIVAN

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he has seen a statement in the "Newcastle Chronicle" of the 7th instant (signed by Messrs. Birkett, Patterson, and Bryson, three English gentlemen), to the effect that Mr. Clifford. Lloyd, resident magistrate at Kilmallock, had brought before him, at his private residence at Kilmallock, an old woman named Mrs. Colman, who was charged with trying to prevent people from buying milk from a milk woman named Reardan; if he (Mr. Lloyd) tried this case at his own residence, and sentenced this poor old woman to six months' imprisonment, without affording her time to prepare her defence, or without her husband or any of her relatives being aware that she was to be tried; whether this statement or the denial of Mr. Lloyd is the correct account of what occurred; and, whether, under the circumstances, he will allow the Law to take its course in the case of this woman, who is nearly seventy years old?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

, in reply, said, he had not seen the newspaper report; but ho had received a Report from the resident magistrate, who, in his opinion, acted quite properly. There was, it appeared, a respectable farmer in the vicinity, who, because ho did not obey a Land League decree ordering him to pay a fine or give up a piece of land he had held for some years, had been frequently "Boycotted." His house had been attacked during the night, and attempts made to burn it, so that it was necessary for a policeman to be quartered in the house. He had, accordingly, to dispose surreptitiously of his milk, butter, and cheese, and the complainant was attacked for selling his milk. Two women, one of them Mrs. Colman, attacked her, collected a crowd, and accused her of selling the "Boycotted" man's milk, and threatened to drive her away. She swore on information that she was in fear of her life, and the resident magistrate considered if he had not taken this action her life would not have been safe. He (Mr. Clifford Lloyd) issued a warrant for the arrrest of the two women. The woman in question was arrested and brought before the magistrate, admitted her offence, and was ordered to find two securities of £10 each to keep the peace for six months, or, in default, to suffer six months' imprisonment. Her husband endeavoured to find the bail, at first unsuccessfully, and the woman was locked up; but next day, on the bail being found, she was released.

MR. O'SULLIVAN

Would the right hon. Gentleman state whether this ease was disposed of by Mr. Clifford Lloyd at his private residence; and whether he has previously denied, in answer to a Question from me, that he ever tried prisoners at his private residence, although I stated at the time that I saw them being brought in there myself?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

I have stated that he tried the case at his office?

MR. PARNELL

Is not this office in his private residence?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

I do not know whether it is or not, and I do not think it makes any difference.

MR. CALLAN

Will the right hon. Gentleman state whether this Mr. Clifford Lloyd is the same as the person about whom the Messrs. Whitworth, of Drogheda, communicated with the Chief Secretary, and as to whom the hon. Member for Drogheda, in his place in this House, stated within the last month that he was a "firebrand?"

MR. O'SULLIVAN

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it harsh that an old woman of 70 years of age should be sent to prison for six months for such a trivial offence?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

She was bound over to keep the peace for six months, and in default was committed to prison and kept there, not for six months, but for one night, and next day, on security being offered, she was released. With regard to her age, I am told that she has the appearance of a woman of 50.