§ MR. SEXTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, in a case against Richard Montgomery, gamekeeper to Mr. E. T. Hardman, J.P., lately heard at the Newtownstewart Petty Sessions, a sergeant and a constable swore that while they were engaged in seizing the contents of an illicit still-house, Montgomery presented a loaded double-barrelled gun at the sergeant, who closed with him and succeeded, after a struggle, in disarming and handcuffing him; whether Montgomery's employer, Mr. Hardman, J.P. presided at the hearing of the case, and, from his place on the Bench, gave Montgomery a character for truthfulness, whereupon the Bench dismissed the case; and, whether the Lord Chancellor of Ireland has had his attention drawn to this mode of dealing with such a charge, and to the conduct of Mr. Hardman in presiding at the 1094 hearing of a criminal charge against his employé, and offering testimony from the Bench in behalf of the accused?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThis Question assumes a state of facts at variance with that appearing on the Reports furnished to me. It appears Mr. Hardman did give Montgomery a character whilst occupying the chair, and in doing so I think he showed some indiscretion; but as he did not further interfere during the hearing of the case, and took no part in the adjudication upon it, there are not sufficient grounds for referring the matter to the Lord Chancellor.