§ MR. WILLIAM CORBET (Wicklow, E.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention had been drawn to a case, decided at Rathdrum Petty Sessions on Thursday last, which arose from some road scrapings claimed, on the one hand by a man named Edward Pierce, under the authority of the road contractor, and on the other by Mr. W. P. Littledale, J.P., of Whaley Abbey, county Wicklow, whose son instructed William Hamilton, an emergency man, to draw the stuff into the farmyard of a holding from which the tenant had been evicted; whether it is true that, when the dispute arose, Hamilton went back to his house, and returned with a revolver, which he, as sworn, presented at Pierce, threatening to blow his brains out; whether Constable Flood swore that Hamilton admitted using the threat; whether Mr. Macleod, R.M., commented on the audacity of the defendant Hamilton in drawing a revolver under the circumstances; and, whether it was true that the defendant was merely bound over in the sum of £10 to keep the peace?
§ * MR. A. J. BALFOURI had no previous knowledge of this case, but have inquired into it, and learn that the dispute arose from the conflicting claims referred to in the Question. The question which the magistrates had to decide was whether Hamilton presented this revolver, loaded, at the complainant, whose name, I am informed, was Price, not Pierce. Had he done so this would have constituted an indictable offence. There was, however, no evidence to show that the revolver was loaded, and Hamilton's daughter contradicted the statement that it was aimed at Price. The R.M. condemned the production of arms under such circumstances. Hamilton was old and infirm, with a wooden leg. He was bound over to keep the peace, or in default one month's imprisonment.
§ MR. WILLIAM CORBETasked the right hon. Gentleman if there was any evidence that the revolver was not loaded?
§ * MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid he had given the hon. Member all the information in his possession.