§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (for Mr. LALOR)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is a fact that, when a hut was about being erected by the Ladies' Land League for an evicted tenant, James Stephens, of Derrylea, near Monasterevan, county Kildare, Mr. Sub-Inspector Purden stated to the persons who were engaged in the work that he would not permit them to erect the hut; and, if they persisted in doing so, he would have it pulled down again; and that he would not permit it to be erected within three miles of that place; if it is a fact that the constable of the district stated that—
If a penny of the; Ladies' Land League Fund were expended on a house for this man, Stephens, there would be a decided objection to it;and, whether, in this case, the question had been previously referred by the police to the decision of the Lord Lieutenant, according to a recent promise of the Chief Secretary?
§ MR. TREVELYANIn this case, Sir, the Constabulary, acting under the directions of the Resident Magistrate, prevented the erection of the hut referred to pending the receipt of the Lord Lieutenant's decision. The facts of the case were duly brought before the Lord Lieutenant; and, as it is alleged that the hut was about to be erected for purposes of intimidation for an evicted tenant on property of his landlady and against her wish, the Lord Lieutenant has directed the Sessional Crown Solicitor to proceed to the scene and investigate the matter and report the result. The Sub-Inspector and constable both deny having used the language attributed to them by the Question.