§ MR. SEXTON (for Mr. SMALL)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that Edward Smith, a shopkeeper at Clough, near Gorey, in the county of Wexford, who has a number of weekly 84 tenants, some time ago announced that he would evict any of them who dealt with Mr. Thomas Tyrrell, another shopkeeper at the same place; that Smith afterwards brought a civil bill ejectment against one of his tenants named John Hinch, and on the hearing of the ejectment admitted that he had brought it because Hinch had continued to deal with Mr. Tyrrell, and that he subsequently caused Hinch to be actually evicted from his dwelling house; and, whether the matter was reported to the constabulary, and whether they have not taken any proceedings; and, if not, to ask the reason?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, I am informed that Edward Smith did not make the statement alleged in the first paragraph of the Question; but that he stated to one of his weekly tenants, who owed him money which he would not pay, that he would not keep a house for a person who dealt with Thomas Tyrrell, the other shopkeeper mentioned. However, he took no action in the matter, although his tenants continued to deal with Tyrrell. Smith brought an ejectment against another tenant on account of destruction of fences and trespass of animals. It is alleged, but I do not know on what authority, that he stated in cross-examination that he would not have taken the ejectment proceedings if Hinch had not dealt with Tyrrell. The matter was reported to the constabulary, but they did not consider it to be a case calling for action under the Crimes Act.