§ SIR CHARLES LEWIS (Antrim, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to a statement in one of the morning papers that in the trial in which Mr. Blunt appeared on Saturday, he stated that he had been without food from the day preceding; whether the right hon. Gentleman had made any inquiry into that statement; and, if it turns out that the facts are true, whether they are to be attributed to negligence or wilful misconduct on the part of any officials?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)I am informed that no conversation such as that referred to in the newspaper took place in the Court at all. The statement was brought to the notice of the Judge, who said there was no foundation whatever for the newspaper report; and, as regards the original allegation, there is no proof of it.