§ MR. BRADLAUGHsaid, as the case of Moroney was a matter of great gravity, he wished to ask the Chief Secretary a Question on the subject, although he had not given the right hon. Gentleman Notice of it. He (Mr. Bradlaugh) was informed that he had no locus standi to make the application before Judge Boyd, for which the Chief Secretary was kind enough to furnish him with material. If it were true, as portion of that material showed, that there was absolute danger in the detention of Moroney in prison, would not the Crown avoid the technical difficulty by making the application themselves, which they clearly had a right to do, although he had not.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.), in reply, said, that, so far as he understood, there was no technical objection to the hon. Member appearing before Judge Boyd on the part of Thomas Moroney. Of course, should he be misinformed on that point, or any difficulty arise, he would be glad to consider what other course might be taken to bring the mental condition of Moroney before the Judge; for, in his opinion, as he had always said, it was a proper subject to bring before the Court.
§ MR. J. F. X. O'BRIEN (Mayo, S.)Why don't you do it yourself?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!
§ MR. BRADLAUGHsaid, he was not a legal practitioner, and he was no party to Moroney's case. It would be competent for anyone, therefore, to object to his opening his mouth on the subject.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURfailed to see how any difficulty could arise; because Judge Boyd had specifically laid it down that he would hear anybody on Moroney's behalf.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHunderstood that; but he also understood that, not being a party to the case, and not being a professional person who could pretend he was an attorney, any individual connected with the case might object to his appearing, and the Judge would then have no right to hear him.
§ THE LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN (Mr. SEXTON) (Belfast, W.)asked, whether the Government intended to disregard 1776 the two Resolutions passed by the Visiting Justices of the prison, calling for the immediate release of Moroney; and, also, whether the Government would refuse to take action themselves, although they had in their possession two Medical Reports—one of them declaring Moroney to be in a state bordering on insanity, and the other making a declaration still more grave?
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)said, before the right hon. Gentleman answered that Question, he desired to know whether the Government had taken any steps to secure independent medical testimony as to the condition of this man?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid he believed the medical testimony the Government had on the subject might be described as independent. In reply to the hon. Gentleman (Mr. Sexton) he did not think he could add to the numerous explanations he had given to the House as to the position which the Government, not of their own choice, but legally, occupied in relation to this matter.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHI do not know whether I understood the right hon. Gentleman to say that if I could satisfy him there were legal objections to my appearing he would then take action in the matter.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIf the difficulty arises, which I do not expect, I will, of course, again look into the case; but I do not think the difficulty will occur, the Judge having given the clearest expression of opinion that he will hear anybody on the subject.
§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)asked, what there was to prevent the Irish Government taking the same course in Moroney's case as the Home Secretary took in the case of Bertram, the Cornish bankrupt?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid, his right hon. Friend the Home Secretary took the usual course adopted in England when a case of the kind arose. He sent the Medical Report on the subject to the Judge. The Irish Government sent the Papers in the case of Moroney to Judge Boyd weeks ago.
§ MR. SEXTONHas the right hon. Gentleman sent to Judge Boyd the Report of Dr. Norman Connolly, the official medical officer of Richmond Lunatic Asylum, declaring that Mr. Moroney is insane?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI believe I am right in repeating an Answer I gave yesterday—that we have supplied Judge Boyd with all the information we possess.
§ MR. J. F. X. O'BRIENIf Judge Boyd intends to murder this man, will the Government—
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!