§ MR. SEXTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is true that on the 9th instant Mr. William Newell Barrow, County Court Judge and Chairman of Quarter Sessions for the county of Monaghan, whilst on a visit to a farm within his jurisdiction, for the purpose of fixing a judicial rent, examined a wooden hut, used for sheltering the family of an evicted tenant, and declared, in the hearing of several persons, "If I had a match, I would set fire to it"—namely, the hut in question; whether the Irish Government regard this language as offering an incitement to an offence against property; and, whether any notice will be taken of the language, especially as proceeding from a judicial person, and one entrusted with the fixing of fair rents?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, this Question has been brought under the notice of Mr. Barrow, who declines to make any statement, either in admission or denial 906 of the anonymous allegation contained in it. The hon. Gentleman who asks it knows very well that the relations which the Government hold to Mr. Barrow are the same as those which they hold to the other Judges of the country, and I do not see how the Government could press inquiries through any other channel.
§ MR. SEXTONasked whether the Government would use the powers given them by the. Prevention of Crime Act for the purpose of making inquiries upon the matter?
§ MR. TREVELYAN,in reply, said, that the matter was in this state, that the allegation made was entirely anonymous; there was no information laid before the Government.
§ MR. SEXTONsaid, he would hand the right hon. Gentleman a letter which was not anonymous.