§ MR. J. F. X. O'BRIEN (Mayo, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the statements made by certain prisoners as to temptations held out to them by policemen, prison officials, and others, to induce them to concoct false evidence against Members of this House and others, he will afford a suitable opportunity for examining into the truth of these allegations—viz., by a public investigation upon oath?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have no ground for believing that these statements, if they have been made, are otherwise than false and malicious. Any witness examined before the Commission can, I suppose, be cross-examined on oath in respect to these charges. If there has been any conspiracy of the kind indicated, it can be punished under the ordinary law.
§ MR. J. F. X. O'BRIENWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether he expects 1393 us to look on calmly while the Government are carrying on their conspiracy against us?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether District Inspector Newall, of Tralee, has been in attendance at the Commission Court for several months, was only examined on 28th January, and is still here in constant communication with the Times solicitor; whether Sergeant Faucett, of Cork; Head Constable Stretton, of Listowel; and Acting Sergeant C. O'Brien, of Tralee, were examined before the Christmas Adjournment, but are still here, and in constant communication with Mr. Soames; whether Constable Kenny, Listowel, has been for months attending the Commission in plain clothes, but has never been called, and is in constant communication with Mr. Soames; whether Sergeant Clark, of Tralee, was examined on 13th December and is still here; whether Superintendent Mallon, of Dublin, has been here since the Commission began, or for several months, and has never been called; whether District Inspector Webb, Kilkenny, came over shortly after the Commission opened, and was only examined on 6th March to prove arrest of Mr. W. Redmond, being meanwhile in constant communication with Mr. Soames; Detective Sergeant Humphreys, of Queenstown, was brought over, kept here for several weeks, never examined, and only allowed to return a few days ago after several consultations with Mr. Soames; whether eight Royal Irish Constabulary men in uniform, ten Royal Irish Constabulary men in plain clothes, five District Inspectors of Royal Irish Constabulary, and four members of Dublin Metropolitan Police in plain clothes, are still here without being examined, although the Commission was obliged to adjourn till Tuesday for want of witnesses; whether they or any of them have been in frequent consultation with the Times advisers; what are they doing in London if they are not to be called; and, why do not police witnesses who have been examined return to their duties in Ireland?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURDistrict Inspector Newall was examined twice. He left on the 7th, the day after his second 1394 examination; was also here to give other evidence, which was dispensed with, and these circumstances rendered his attend-dance for a lengthened period necessary. The men named in paragraph 2 were examined before Christmas, but were detained for the purpose of giving further evidence. Sergeant Faucett was subsequently examined. Head Constable Stretton has returned to Ireland. Sergeant Faucett and Acting Sergeant O'Brien are still here as witnesses, Constable Kenny was here for a considerable time without being examined. His attendance has now been dispensed with. The members of the Royal Irish Constabulary in London on subpœna wear plain clothes unless when actually going to be examined, and Constable Kenny followed the usual practice. Sergeant Clark, of Tralee, is not still here, He was examined on the 13th of December; but it appears he was detained for further cross-examination if required. His attendance was dispensed with on the 7th inst. Superintendent Mallon, of Dublin, has been here for several months without being examined. He was subpœnaed to produce documents which were afterwards admitted. During part of the time of his attendance in London he has been occupied both at the police-court and at Middlesex Sessions as a witness against Patrick Molloy. He returned to Dublin on the 9th inst., after his services in connection with the latter case were dispensed with. Mr. Webb is a retired Constabulary officer, who was examined, proved that Mr. William Redmond had been at one time going about under an assumed name distributing "No Rent" manifestoes, &c. There is no such person as Detective Sergeant Humphreys, of Queens-town; but Head Constable Humphreys, of Liverpool, who was stationed at Queenstown some ten years ago, was in attendance on subpœna for several weeks, and was not examined, as the branch of the case to which his evidence referred was not gone into. There are two District Inspectors and 16 men of the Royal Irish Constabulary still in attendance at the Commission, in obedience to their subpœnas. There is no such distinction as indicated in the Question as to men in uniform and plain clothes. All members of the force, when being examined before the 1395 Commission, wear uniform. There are no members of the Dublin police here at present. Severals members of that force were over recently in connection with the proceedings against Patrick Molloy. Of the 16 men alluded to, the attendance of some has now been dispensed with, and several others have only recently arrived. When called upon, no doubt, all witnesses supply any legitimate information in their power. And so far as the Government are concerned, they have been left at perfect liberty to supply such evidence as they could, and to dispose of their time for that purpose as they thought proper. They have all been in attendance in obedience to their subpœnas, ready to give evidence when called, and every effort has been made, in the interest of Irish administration, from time to time to have their attendance dispensed with at the earliest possible moment. Let me add that, while this is, I believe, a full and accurate account of what has occurred, I by no means commit myself to the proposition that, under no circumstances, ought an Irish constable to be in London for the purpose of aiding the investigation now going on before the Commission except under subpœna.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYI would like to ask the right hon. Gentleman if he has any information as to whether Head Constable Preston is in town or not?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThis question is not on the paper. I endeavoured to obtain information as to every matter on the paper.
§ MR. JOHN O'CONNORI desire to ask the Attorney General whether Faucett and O'Brien, who are said to be still here, are remaining to be examined by the Times?
MR. PATRICK O'BRIENIs the Chief Secretary aware that an Inspector named Siddel, who has returned to Ireland and who was here since before Christmas, has not been examined, and that an officer of the name of Tierney has been in London attending the Commission up to the present and has not been examined at all?
THE CHIEF SECRETARYI am afraid I do not follow the proceedings of the Commission with the attention that I might, and therefore I cannot answer that question.
§ SIR W. HARCOURTThe Attorney General having stated the other day that the communications with these Irish officials have been made at his request through Mr. Soames, may I ask whether the attendance of all these persons was ordered at the request of the Attorney General through Mr. Soames?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am informed, and I have no doubt informed correctly, that the police constables in question attended in London on subpœna from the Court. I know nothing about the matter more than that.
§ SIR W. HARCOURTThe right hon. Gentleman is aware that the Court does not order a subpœna except upon the application of someone. What I wish to ask is whether the persons subpœnaed were subpœnaed at the instance of the Attorney General communicated through Mr. Soames?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have no doubt that they were subpœnaed at the instances of Mr. Soames.
§ SIR W. HARCOURTThat is not my question.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOUR; Well, I do not know anything more about it.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYIs there now any officer from Ireland in charge of these police, and can the right hon. Gentleman give his name, and tell us how many officers there are left in London?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI think I gave the information in my answer; but if the hon. Member will put a question on the paper I shall be very glad to answer it.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYIs there any officer in charge of them?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI believe there is.
§ MR. W. REDMONDMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is the fact, as reported in some quarters, that circulars have been sent to Constabulary officers all over Ireland ordering them to seek information and evidence likely to be useful to the Times?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The hon. Gentleman will put the question down in the usual course.