§ MR. GILL (Louth, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention had been called to the following verdict, found by the Coroner's Jury at Ardee last Friday, at the close of the inquest on the body of the evicted tenant James Dunne:—
We find that James Dunne, on Tuesday, the 12th day of October, 1853, at Belpatrick, in the County Louth, died from the effects of shock and exposure; and we find Henry Robert Emerson and Athol Johnson Dudgeon did feloniously and unlawfully kill and slay the said James Dunne by subjecting him to this shock and exposure on the 11th day of October, 1888, at Belpatrick, in said county; and the Jury cannot separate without censuring the Sub-Sheriff for not using more precautions on the occasion;and what course the Irish Executive propose to take to give effect to this verdict?
§ MR. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)asked, Whether the Jury did not consist of 17 Nationalists, including the Secretary of the local branch of the National League?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)I have not made any inquiry as to the constitution of the Jury; but I am informed that those concerned have given the necessary bail, and have served notice on the Chief Crown Solicitor of an immediate application to quash the verdict. Pending those proceedings no determination can be arrived at by the Attorney General.
§ MR. HANDEL COSSHAM (Bristol, E.)said, he was a personal witness of the case, and he trusted that the right hon. Gentleman would satisfy himself as to the circumstances of it.