§ MR. BLANE (Armagh, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If, on Saturday 27th August, 1887, an Orange drumming party marched 904 through Markethill, County Armagh, using offensive and threatening language to the Catholics, inhabitants, and finally assaulting them with violence in their own dwellings; whether the Rev. Mr. Short, when trying to preserve the people from the violence of the invading mob, was assaulted by the Orange party; and, if he will make inquiries into the occurrence from some independent source?
THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet) (who replied)said, the Local Constabulary Authorities reported that a Protestant drumming party entered the town of Markethill on Saturday last. They did not assault any Roman Catholic inhabitants, or enter their dwellings. The Rev. Mr. Short did not complain to the police of having been assaulted; but a man named Edward Short complained of some party having challenged him and used party expressions. The drumming party also charged the Roman Catholics with having likewise used party expressions. The whole case was laid before the magistrates at Petty Sessions; and after hearing all the circumstances in open Court they directed that the police should not prosecute, as it was open to Edward Short to proceed by summons if he chose to do so.