§ MR. M'LAREN (Cheshire, Crewe)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the case tried at Tralee, on Monday, before Messrs. Roche and Massey, Resident Magistrates, when a young man, named Timothy Sullivan, was charged with having a bullet in his possession; whether Sullivan said he found the bullet, and kept it as a marble; whether he was sent to gaol for three months with hard labour; and, whether, considering the somewhat light nature of the crime, he will obtain a remission of the sentence?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)This man was defended by a solicitor, and was convicted and sentenced as stated in the Question, but without hard labour. The Head Constable who appeared on behalf of the Crown asked the Magistrates to impose the full term of imprisonment in the first ease, the man being a person of bad character; and, secondly, suspected of connection with crime and outrage, and it being believed that he had the bullet in his possession for the purpose of committing an outrage. If the prisoner felt aggrieved he could have, by a notice through his solicitor, appealed from the Magistrates' decision, and I may say that he can still.
§ MR. T. E. ELLIS (Merionethshire)I beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman, Whether there was any evidence brought forward at the trial which would show that this man was suspected of crime?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am afraid I cannot answer that Question without Notice. I have not seen a full report of the trial.
§ MR. T. E. ELLISWas there any evidence brought forward that he was a bad character?
§ Mr. A. J. BALFOURThat is a Question which I could not answer now. In the opinion of the police he was a bad character.
§ MR. T. E. ELLISI want to find out whether it was the opinion of the Judge?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIf the hon. Gentleman asks that Question, I should say I think it was the opinion of the Judge, or else he would not have sentenced the man to three months' imprisonment.