§ MR. JAMES STUART (Shoreditch, Hoxton)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that summonses have been issued at Dundalk against Michael Joseph Carroll, Henry Cooper, and Joseph Michael Johnston—
For wrongfully, and without legal authority, using violence and intimidation to and towards Robert Emerson, Esquire, Solicitor, in consequence of his having done an act that he had a legal right to do—namely, having acted as agent and solicitor for and on behalf of the Right Honourable Lord Viscount Massereene;whether this violence and intimidation consisted of anything else than "booing" at Mr. Emerson at the Dundalk Railway Station on June 20 last, after the hearing of the appeal of Mr. John Dillon, M.P., unaccompanied by any acts of violence or threatened violence; whether he can explain why these summonses were not issued till more than a month after the event complained of; and, whether be will intimate to the Crown Prosecutor to withdraw the charge?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)The Constabulary authorities report that the men named have been summoned for intimidation towards the gentleman referred to. One of them, however, absconded, and has not up to the present been traced. The intimidation consisted not merely of booing, but of inciting a hostile and excited crowd to attack the gentleman, who was a stranger to the place. No unavoidable delay has, I understand, taken place in instituting the proceedings, summonses having been issued in the first instance for June 29, when these cases with others were adjourned. The fresh summonses were issued about July 21.