§ MR. BIGGARasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether William Worth Newenham, a 1065 Militia captain and magistrate of the county of Cork, after dining with the resident magistrate, Mr. Arthur Mitchel, on the 22nd of January last at Cork, was found about midnight on that occasion drunk and misconducting himself in Winthrop Street by Constables Carroll and Lockhart, who took him prisoner to Tuckey Street Guardhouse; whether Mr. Newenham assaulted the police, and tore the tunic belonging to one of them; whether Mr. Newenham behaved in a most violent manner, shouting at the top of his voice that he was an Orangeman, a Freemason, and a magistrate of the county of Cork; and that he had got drunk in the company of the resident magistrate, before whom he ordered the police to bring him; whether the police, instead of lodging Mr. Newenham in Bridewell in the usual course, to be dealt with next morning by the city justices, brought him to the City Club before Mr. Mitchel, R.M. who discharged the prisoner, remarking that it was a case for a summons; whether it is the fact that no summons has been since issued; if so, why has a summons not been issued; whether the subsequent correspondence between Messrs. Mitchel and Newenham will be laid upon the Table; whether the police made a report of the matter to their superiors; if so, what is the purport of that report; and, whether the Government will retain Messrs. Mitchel and Newenham in the Commission of the Peace?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe incident to which this Question has reference occurred on the 15th, not the 22nd January. At about 11 P.M. on the day I have named Captain Newenham was brought in custody to the club where the Resident Magistrate was, and charged with attempting to assault a policeman. The Resident Magistrate ordered his discharge, and told the police they might proceed by summons. The case was subsequently investigated by the police authorities, who came to the conclusion that it was not desirable to move further in the matter, and it was allowed to drop. It is not true that Captain Newenham had dined with the Resident Magistrate that evening. Captain Newenham was not drunk, nor are the other particulars of conduct ascribed to him true. He did not desire the police to bring him before the Resident 1066 Magistrate, and no correspondence whatever on the subject has passed between him and Mr. Mitchel.
§ MR. O'KELLYWill the right hon. Gentleman, then, be kind enough to say why Captain Newenham was arrested?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANHe was arrested for an attempt to assault the police.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDWhy did he attempt to assault the police?
§ [No reply.]