§ MR. HEALYasked the Postmaster General, What course he intends to take in regard to Mr. Cornwall, Secretary of the General Post Office, Dublin?
§ MR. FAWCETTSir, in view of the verdict yesterday in the case of "Cornwall v. O'Brien," I have given instructions by telegraph that, pending fuller information, the charge of the Post Office in Ireland be placed in the hands of Mr. Thompson, or the next senior officer.
§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORIs Mr. Cornwall at present absent on leave?
§ MR. FAWCETTI do not think he is.
§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORThen, is he absent without leave?
§ MR. FAWCETTNo; I believe he has been in Dublin; but I have had no communication from Dublin to day, and I am not aware where he is.
§ MR. HEALYasked, whether it was the right hon. Gentleman's intention to give Mr. Cornwall a pension?
§ [No reply.]
§ MR. HEALYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is intended to prosecute Mr. Gustavus Cornwall, Secretary of the General Post Office, Dublin?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, having heard of the verdict found last night in "Cornwall v. O'Brien," I have given directions to have the matter brought at once before the Law Officers.
§ MR. SEXTONI would ask the right hon. Gentleman, if he knows where Cornwall is at present; if it is true that he left Ireland last evening; and if, having regard to the verdict in the case, the Government will maintain a watch on Cornwall's movements, with a view of seeing that he shall not escape from justice?
§ MR. TREVELYANI have communicated with the Law Officers on the whole subject.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDWith reference to this matter, I would ask whether, in view of the evidence and verdict in the case of "Cornwall v. O'Brien," the right hon. Gentleman will now withdraw the charge he made in this House during the debate on Mr. French's case, that the evidence against Mr. Cornwall was being trumped up by a detective named Meiklejohn?
§ MR. TREVELYANIt is very important that the exact words of a Member should be recorded. The hon. Member for the Queen's County (Mr. Arthur O'Connor), in stating the case against Mr. French, which he did with the very greatest moderation and good feeling, made some remarks about two interviews which he believed to have taken place between me and Mr. French. I said, and I added that I could bring overwhelming evidence to support what I said, that those interviews could not possibly have taken place; and I then said that a person who had been turned out of the Police, and who had been for two years in prison for levying blackmail, was in Dublin, and that it was a very serious matter, referring to these meetings, to have charges of that nature—referring to what had been said about myself—trumped up against public officials in Ireland. These were my exact 511 words, and any deduction which may be drawn from these words to the case of any other person than myself was a deduction which was not intended.
§ MR. TREVELYANThe hon. Member (Mr. Arthur O'Connor) did not put it in the form of a charge. He said it was believed that these interviews had taken place. The hon. Member for Monaghan (Mr. Healy) had questioned me previously with regard to these supposed interviews, and I said what I did in my speech in the most perfect good faith, believing that he was relying on the statements of Meiklejohn. It was not a charge, but a statement of a most disagreeable nature—that I had twice, at my own request, very long interviews with this man French, whom I believe I never saw, and that with my own mouth I told him that he must bring this action, and that the Government would not give him any money, the real fact being that at the time of these supposed interviews I was absent from Ireland.
§ MR. HEALYWill the right hon. Gentleman now state what course the Government propose to take with regard to French?
§ MR. TREVELYANThe case of Mr. French, at the present moment, is this. I am informed by three leading medical men that he is, at the present moment, suffering from softening of the brain, and it is impossible to taken any course with regard to him whatever. He is not in the receipt of a pension, he is not in the Government service, and it is impossible to take any course with regard to him while he is undoubtedly in the condition that he is.
§ MR. HEALYI would ask the hon. and learned Gentleman the Attorney General, whether insanity precludes indictment?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)That is an abstract Question, and I will answer it when it arises.