§ MR. GILHOOLY (Cork, W.)asked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to The Cork Herald, in which appears a report of a case heard at Bantry Petty Sessions on Saturday, 18th instant, where four men were charged with attacking a dwelling house; whether Mr. Warburton, R.M., refused to allow evidence for the defence unless the defendants or their solicitor would pay, or guarantee to pay, for the depositions about being taken; whether it is customary to require this; and, by what authority such a demand was made?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN) (Dublin University)The case referred to was heard at Bantry Petty Sessions on Saturday. The Petty Sessions Clerks' Act requires that all depositions must bear a 1s. stamp; and the whole of the evidence tendered by the defence was received on 1375 the solicitor undertaking to pay the Stamp Duty. The course taken by the Bench was fully justified by the statute to which I have referred.