§ MR.CRILLY (Mayo, N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention had been called to the case of Matthew J. Melvin and James King, who were sentenced respectively to five years' penal servitude at the Munster Winter Assizes of 1883, on a charge of being members of a criminal conspiracy in Mayo, and who, while awaiting trial, were kept in prison, and confined to their cells 22 hours daily, for 10 months, bail being refused in the meantime by the Queen's Bench, on the express understanding that, if convicted, a remission of sentence would be allowed equal to the time the accused were detained; if the then Chief Secretary (Sir George Trevelyan) answered in this House, in reply to a Question—
That all such prisoners so kept back from trial, and not admitted to bail, would, in case of being convicted, be allowed a remission equal to the time so detained:and if, taking into consideration this preliminary punishment, and the promises made, as well as the usual remission allowed for hard work and good conduct, he will consider whether these men might now be released on licence?
THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) said (Kent, Isle of Thanet)These two convicts were in custody, awaiting trial, from June, 1883, until March, 1884. This fact was fully before the learned Judge when he passed sentence on them. There was no such understanding as that alluded to, nor is there any record of the then Chief Secretary having made the statement attributed to him. The case of these convicts has been already fully considered at various times in connection with Memorials put forward by them or on their behalf. The last Memorial was received towards the end of last month, which embodied all the allegations contained in this Question. The Lord Lieutenant has decided that the law must take its course.