HC Deb 14 February 1884 vol 284 cc867-8
MR. SEXTON

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Mr. E. W. Gamble, Q C. who attended an Orange meeting, held in the Rotunda, Dublin, on the 24th ultimo, in support of Lord Rossmore, and in condemnation of the Executive for having superseded him in the Commission of the Peace, and who by his presence concurred in those proceedings, is the same person as Robert Wilson Gamble, Q.C. County Court Judge of Armagh and Louth; and whether, if so, the Government will consider whether it can be followed that a person in a judicial position should publicly associate himself with approval of the conduct of a superseded magistrate and with attacks upon the Government?

MR. TREVELYAN

Mr. Gamble is not an officer of the Executive Government, or subject to their control. Probably the hon. Member is aware Mr. Gamble is a Judge, and can only be removed from office by an Address of both Houses of Parliament. It might, of course, be the duty of the Government to consider whether in any case they are called upon to introduce or support a Motion for such an Address. In the present case they do not consider they are so called upon. Mr. Gamble appears to have gone to the gallery of the Rotunda in order to hear the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Westminster speak. The advertisement calling the meeting was as follows:— Loyalist Demonstration. An aggregate meeting of Loyalists will be hold in the Round Room of the Rotunda on Thursday, 24th instant, at 8 o'clock p.m. The Right Hon. W. H. Smith, M.P., and others, will address the meeting. That is the whole of the advertisement, and that is all Mr. Gamble appears to have known about the meeting.

MR. GIBSON

Was it in the ladies' gallery?

MR. SEXTON

I am obliged to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether this was the meeting at which a member of the Bar stated that the blood of Giffen rested on the head of the Lord Lieutenant, and at which murderous placards were circulated in reference to the meet- ing at Kill-o'-the-Grange; and, also, with what official rests the power to reprimand a County Court Judge, and to inform him that he had better not attend such meetings in the future?

MR. TREVELYAN

That was the meeting at which the language in question was used, and that was the meeting at which placards were circulated which I will not characterize by any epithet; but about which I shall say this—that the persons who issued them were forced to give up the meeting for fear of the consequences which might ensue. There is no official who can call Mr. Gamble to account.

MR. T. D. SULLIVAN

Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman why the gentlemen who issued this murderous placard have not been proceeded against under the Prevention of Crime Act?

MR. DAWSON

Might I ask, also, whether at that meeting there was any hostile demonstration towards the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Westminster?

MR. HARRINGTON

Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether this Mr. Gamble is the same Judge who, trying a man in Kerry some years ago for stealing, sentenced him to be executed?

[No reply was given to these Questions.]