§ MR. MARK STEWART (Kirkcudbright)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he can inform the House how many persons were imprisoned merely on suspicion, and how many were condemned without trial by jury, under the Summary Jurisdiction Clauses of the Crimes Act, 1882, during Earl Spencer's administration of the Office of Lord Lieutenant?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)I do not know whether my hon. Friend is referring only to imprisonment on suspicion under the Crimes Act of 1882, or 49 whether he wishes to include also the Protection of Person and Property Act of 1881. The total number of persons arrested under the Protection of Person and Property Act was 955. Earl Spencer came into Office on May 6, 1882; and subsequent to that date 52 persons were imprisoned on suspicion under that Act. Under the Coercion Act, which came into force on July 13, 1882—[Ironical cheers from the Irish Members]—it was not my Coercion Act—1,003 persons were proceeded against under the Suspected Persons Clauses of that Act; 187 were convicted. The Earl of Carnarvon took Office on June 13, 1885; but very few, if any, of the prosecutions mentioned were subsequent to that date.
§ MR. MAURICE HEALY (Cork)asked, had not many of the persons proceeded against been merely bound to the peace?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid, he could not answer that without Notice.