§ MR. STOREYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, after perusing the verbatim shorthand notes of the case which has been furnished him, he impugns their accuracy in any substantial point, and if so will he state in which; and whether, in the face of this evidence, he is now prepared to state that any charge was either made or proved against James Doyle, save only that he put in his window the placard "No bum-bailiffs or emergency men shod here," or that Mr. Doyle refused to desist from the course he was pursuing?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not impugn the accuracy of the notes referred to in any material point. These notes fully support the statement which I made to the House in reply to a former question of the hon. Member, inasmuch as it appears that it was proved on oath at Doyle's trial that the motives in question were intended and calculated to keep alive the bad feeling which had resulted in the boycotting of certain persons who were caretakers on an evicted farm situated within 200 yards of Doyle's shop, and were calculated to disturb the peace of the locality. It further appears that this was not denied by Doyle, and that when asked by the Magistrate to give an undertaking to desist from the course which he was pursuing, he refused to do so, and it was only on such refusal that the Magistrates ordered him to find sureties for good behaviour.
§ MR. STOREYUnfortunately this is a matter which involves too large a controversy to be dealt with in a mere question, but I should like to ask whether the right hon. Gentleman means to assert that against Doyle there has been alleged and proved on evidence other acts beside the act of putting up this notice?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am not aware whether there was any other act or not.
§ MR. STOREYIt is impossible for me to discuss the matter now, but I will put another question to the right hon. Gentleman to-morrow.