§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)I wish to ask the Home Secretary whether there is any truth in the report that Richard Pigott has been apprehended? Secondly, I wish to ask whether there is to be a Coroner's inquest respecting the death of Dr. Maguire, as to which suspicions have been suggested; and, thirdly, whether steps will be taken to secure possession of the deceased gentleman's papers? I wish further to ask, in reference to a statement made before the Special Commission this morning by Sir Charles Russell, that the man Houston has been involved in a foul conspiracy, whether any steps will be taken to insure that he shall not leave the country?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. MATTHEWS,) Birmingham, E.With regard to Mr. Pigott, there is no truth in the report that he has been apprehended. Every possible step has been taken by the Metropolitan Police in the matter since the issue of the Bench warrant (and earlier on the perjury warrant) for his apprehension, which reached Scotland Yard at a quarter-past 6 o'clock yesterday afternoon in a sealed envelope from Messrs. Lewis and Lewis. Immediately all the ports and foreign stations were telegraphed to with instructions to detain Pigott. 486 If he passed through a foreign station, of course it would only be necessary to send information as to his arrival. Special inquiries were also made at all the London hotels, and last night Pigott's name and description were circulated in what is called "Information" to all stations of the Metropolitan Police, the consequence of which was that every constable on any beat had instructions to detain Pigott. I do not know that any other steps could have been taken, but they have, as yet, all resulted in nothing. Pigott has not been seen, and no information has been obtained respecting him within the district of the Metropolitan Police. With regard to Dr. Maguire, my information is that he died yesterday morning of inflammation of the windpipe. A consultation of doctors was held on Monday, and they contemplated the operation of tracheotomy, but in consequence of his condition, and the disease from which he was suffering, it was not considered safe to perform that operation. He sank under the disease in the course of yesterday morning, and, so far as my information reaches, there is no reason whatever why the Coroner should hold an inquiry, as the death was purely due to natural causes. Of course, if any suspicious circumstances arise, no doubt the Coroner of the district will hold an inquest. With regard to what the hon. Gentleman has suggested to me about taking precautions as to any papers Dr. Maguire may have had, and also with respect to Mr. Houston, I have no information at present before me that would justify me in taking any steps of that kind, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the matter will not escape my attention, and that I will 487 neglect no precautions that may seem necessary.
§ MR. SEXTONI wish to ask, with regard to Mr. Houston, whether the right hon. Gentleman will be good enough to bear in mind the statement made before the Special Commission that certain letters of Houston, said to have been destroyed, are in the possession of Pigott?
§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)I wish to ask the Home Secretary, with reference to the Questions I put to the right hon. Gentleman yesterday, if he has had any opportunity of learning whether the persons whom Pigott, on his examination before the Commission, swore were with him for his protection were constables; and, if so, whether they were constables of the Metropolitan Police, and whether he has any information as to what other force they belong to; also, if they were constables, whether it was their duty to report when Pigott disappeared, and whether they, in fact, made any report, and, if so, to whom?
§ MR. MATTHEWSMr. Pigott was neither watched nor protected by any constables whatever belonging to the Metropolitan Police Force. I cannot give the hon. Member information as to any other persons whose names have been mentioned in the course of these proceedings. If Mr. Pigott has been under police supervision by constables of the Metropolitan Police, of course it would be their duty to make a Report.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHIs it within the knowledge of the right hon. Gentleman that it would be possible for constables of any other force to be protecting Mr. Pigott within the Metropolitan Police District?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI should say, certainly, no. The constables of any other force whatever have no jurisdiction to act as constables within the Metropolitan District.
§ MR. O'HANLON (Cavan, E.)Owing to the fact that Dr. Maguire may have got poison administered to him, might it not be well to hold a post-mortem examination?
§ No answer was returned, the Home Secretary having temporarily left the House.
§ MR. J. E. ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)I wish, in the absence of 488 the Home Secretary, to ask the Solicitor General for Ireland whether he is not aware that two members of the Irish Constabulary, in the course of yesterday, swore, in the Commission Court, that they were protecting this person Pigott; and whether they have made any Report?
§ THE SOLICITOR-GENERAL For IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN,) University of DublinThat is a Question which obviously requires consideration, and I must ask the hon. Gentleman to give notice of it.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)Are the Government not aware that these two men have been over here for the last fortnight? How comes it that members of the Royal Irish Constabulary can be absent from their stations in Ireland without the Government knowing it? I would ask further, if it is the fact that these officers are not under the control of Her Majesty's Government, why they are in London; and how it is that the Government have been able, on previous occasions, with regard to Members of this House, to suspend the action of warrants issued to members of the Royal Irish Constabulary, unless they can control the action of these men whilst they are in London?
§ MR. MADDENI have no special knowledge of the matters of fact which are the foundation of the Question of the hon. and learned Member, but if he puts the Question on the paper I will make inquiries.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHMay I ask the Under Secretary whether it is possible for constables of the Irish Constabulary to do duty in London without the knowledge of the Home Office, when the right hon. Gentleman has stated that they have no jurisdiction?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. STUART-WORTLEY,) Sheffield, HallamI cannot add anything to the answers which my right hon. Friend gave. I think further notice should be given.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYMay I ask whether a letter has been received in Court this morning from Pigott, written from an hotel in Paris; and whether, in view of that fact, the Government are now in communication with the authorities in Paris with regard to this man?
§ MR. STUART-WORTLEYMy right hon. Friend has said that every step has been taken that can be taken in the matter.
§ MR. SEXTONMay I ask whether the warrants which have been issued will enable the arrest of Pigott to be made in Paris?
§ DR. COMMINS (Roscommon, S.)Is it not the fact that members of the Irish Constabulary do duty in London, Liverpool, and other large centres in England; and, if so, by what authority do they act?
§ MR. SEXTONWill either of the warrants issued enable Pigott to be arrested in Paris; and, if so, will the Government telegraph to the British Ambassador at Paris or any other authority?
§ MR. STUART-WORTLEYI conceive that the arrest of a person in Paris would be a matter of extradition. Of course, no steps will be omitted that may seem advisable.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYIn view of the importance of the matter, I should like to know whether any steps will be taken to keep a watch on Houston, the Secretary of the Loyal and Patriotic Union, to prevent him from leaving the country, and to secure his presence during the sittings of the Commission? I hear that he was not in Court to-day. I do not for a moment contemplate the evasion of justice, but I wish to know whether steps will be taken to secure his presence during the sittings of the Commission?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI will consider most carefully anything that the law permits me to do. I may state that I have received some further information which supplements an answer I have already given. There has been handed by Mr. Soames to the Metropolitan Police this morning a letter received from Pigott in Paris.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYAs I stated.
§ MR. MATTHEWSThe date of the postmark is too obscure for me to be able to state it to the House. There is a French postmark upon it showing that it came from Paris, and the Metropolitan Police are now taking steps, through the Foreign Office, to procure the extradition of Pigott, not, of course, upon the Bench warrant, on which he could not be extradited, but upon the perjury warrant.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHMay I repeat to the right hon. Gentleman the Question I put to the Under Secretary in his absence? In answer to me the right hon. Gentleman said that no constables except those of the Metropolitan Police can exercise jurisdiction in the Metropolitan Police area. It is clear, if the reports are correct of the evidence taken before the Royal Commission, that two members of the Royal Irish Constabulary at least have been discharging the duty of protecting Richard Pigott. I will ask whether it is possible that that can happen without the knowledge of the Home Office?
§ MR. MATTHEWSPerfectly possible. It has happened apparently in this case.
§ DR. COMMINSI put a Question to the Under Secretary, but received no answer. I want to know whether it is not a notorious fact that constables belonging to the Irish police have acted as such in London and Liverpool? As the hon. Gentleman says, they have no authority to act as police here, I want to know under what authority they have acted?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI stated with perfect accuracy that no Irish constable can act as such within the Metropolitan Police area. There are, however, certain Statutes in existence under which Irish constables are directed to execute warrants here.
§ DR. COMMINSIt is a notorious fact within my own knowledge that they do act.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHThe right hon. Gentleman did not answer the Question I put to him. My Question is this. The right hon. Gentleman, in reply to a previous Question, stated that no Irish constable has jurisdiction to act within the Metropolitan Police area. But, at least, two constables have sworn—if the reports be correct—that they have been acting for the protection of Pigott within the Metropolitan Police District, such constables having their services paid for by a Vote of this House. My Question is, Can constables who are in the service of the State do any kind of duty within the Metropolitan Police District without the knowledge of the Home Office?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI can only say it is not within my knowledge that any constables have so acted; and I think 491 it is clear that no Irish constable can act as a constable within the Metropolitan Police District. It may happen that an Irish constable may volunteer, or be hired, to do the duty of a constable.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHI am afraid that I have failed to make my Question clear. If it is the case of a constable paid by a Vote of this House to do duty in Ireland, how can he be present within the Metropolitan Police District for any time without the knowledge of the Home Office?
§ MR. MATTHEWSIt is perfectly possible.
§ DR. COMMINSThere have been for years, both in Liverpool and London, constables attached to the Detective Department who belong to the Royal Irish Constabulary, and I want to know under what authority they act?
§ MR. MATTHEWSThey do not act as constables, and have no authority to act as constables within the Metropolitan Police District.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYThe Home Secretary has misapprehended my Question in regard to Irish constables. I do not question for a moment that British law does not allow the capture of persons, but the British law does allow the shadowing, watching, and surveillance of persons, by Irish police officers. We have experienced that ourselves; and I wish to ask whether the same law which has been meted out to Members of this House in the shadowing of their persons, the watching of their houses, and the keeping of a constant eye upon their habits, will now be put in operation in regard to this suspicious person, Houston? I say nothing against Houston, but I merely wish to ask whether, in view of the serious statements which have been made in regard to him, and the cloud of suspicion which circles around him just now, steps will be taken—one of the witnesses having already evaded the jurisdiction of the Court—to prevent Houston from abstracting himself from the jurisdiction of Her Majesty's dominions?
§ MR. MATTHEWSThe hon. Gentleman has been misled if he suggests that hon. Members below the Gangway have been what is called "shadowed."
§ MR. T. M. HEALYI have constantly been shadowed.
§ MR. MATTHEWSThe assumption of the hon. and learned Gentleman that hon. Members below the Gangway are shadowed is absolutely unfounded.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYNot only have measures been taken to watch me here, but when I go abroad.
§ MR. MATTHEWSI cannot say what can be done or what ought to be done in regard to Houston. I can only repeat that no precautions that may seem necessary shall be neglected.