§ MR. SEXTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is true that Mr. Wilfred Lloyd, R.M. Miltown Malbay, county Clare (brother to Mr. Clifford Lloyd, R.M.) recently refused to accept bails in a case before him on the ground that the parties tendering bail had not paid their rents (said rents being more than 1672 double the Government valuation of the holdings); whether MR. Clifford Lloyd, R.M. lately telegraphed to the constable in charge of the police station at Carre-gaholt, county Clare, ordering him to send in the names of eight or ten of the principal tenants on the property of Major McDonnell, so that he might have them arrested if they did not pay their rents; whether the brothers Lloyd are authorized by the Executive to make the non-payment of rent a reason for refusing bail, or for arrest and imprisonment; and, if they are not so authorized, what notice will be taken of their conduct; and, whether Mr. Clifford Lloyd, or any other magistrate, is supplied with signed blank warrants under the Coercion Act, to be filled up at his pleasure?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTER,in reply, said, that Mr. Clifford Lloyd informed him that, on several occasions, he had accepted bail from persons who had not paid their rent. He asked the question when he was inquiring as to their solvency; but the fact that they had not paid their rents would not of itself prevent him accepting the person's bail. As for the second paragraph of the Question, Mr. Clifford Lloyd had sent no such telegram. With regard to the third part of the Question, the Chief Secretary had no power to interfere with the judicial discretion of the magistrates. With regard to the last part of the Question, he wished to state emphatically that no more false notion could possibly prevail than the idea that magistrates were supplied with signed blank warrants under the Coercion Act. No such warrants had ever been issued, either by the Lord Lieutenant or by himself, without full examination.