§ MR. O'SHEAasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Mr. Edmund Burke, Mr. William Hynes, and Mr. Thomas 1439 McMahon, who were arrested on the 9th instant at Miltownmalbay, county Clare, or any of them, were amongst those shopkeepers who were lately threatened by Mr. Clifford Lloyd, Superior Resident Magistrate, with imprisonment if they refused to sell goods, within three days and thenceforward, to a certain person named by him; whether, in making that threat, Mr. Clifford Lloyd accused any, and, if so, which, of the above-named suspects of intimidating others from selling to the person in question; and, if he could state what is the number of the inhabitants of Miltownmalbay according to the last census; and, what is the number of suspects from that place at present in gaol?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, there had been a conspiracy in Miltown-Malbay to ruin a lady, and deprive her of the very necessaries of life. The resident magistrate considered that he had reasonable grounds for suspecting that two persons, named Hynes and M'Mahon, were engaged in that conspiracy; and he sent for them, and warned them that if they did not at once cease their illegal practices the law would be put in operation against them. The number of "suspects" at present confined from Miltown-Malbay was 21, and the population, according to the last Census, was 1,362. The House was aware that an unoffending old man in the service of the lady in question was shot in cold blood at his fireside.
§ MR. O'SHEAasked whether Messrs. Hynes, Burke, and M'Mahon wore suspected of having anything to do with the murder of the old man; because he thought it was unfair that the circumstances should be alluded to in an answer respecting them?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERsaid, he was not aware of any suspicion against the parties mentioned in connection with the murder of the old man in question.