§ MR. J. O'CONNOR (Tipperary, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has received affidavits from John A. Drew, shopkeeper, Tipperary, John Tohy, and Henry John 1706 Lutman, declaring that on the evening of the 4th instant two private soldiers of the 1st Manchester Regiment, stationed at Tipperary, were ordered out of the house of John A. Drew by Sergeant O'Brien, and when at the door were placed under arrest and deprived of their belts by him; whether their offence was against a Regimental Order placing Mr. Carew's house "out of bounds;" has Mr. Carew's house been a well-conducted house, or have any charges ever been made against him for having broken the Licensing Law or any other law; and what is the reason for the above-mentioned Regimental Order?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. BRODRICK, Surrey, Guildford)The Secretary of State has received the affidavits referred to. The offence of the men was against a Regimental Order placing Mr. Carew's house out of bounds, but the officer commanding states that they were not arrested, but were marched away with the picket to avoid a crowd of civilians. As already stated, the Secretary of State has no knowledge as to the conduct by Mr. Carew of his house; and, as the matter is one of military discipline, he again declines to call for explanation of an order which the officer commanding was fully competent in his discretion to make.
§ MR. J. O'CONNORI wish to know whether a similar order has been given in the case of any other public house in Tipperary; and, if not, why the house of Mr. Carew has been singled out? I also desire to know whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that prosecutions have been entered into against persons for the offence known as boycotting in Tipperary?
§ MR. BRODRICKI am not aware that any person or persons have been picked out in the way suggested by the hon. Member, and I cannot tell the hon. Member whether any other houses have been dealt with in the same manner, but if he desires I will inquire.
§ MR. J. O'CONNORI will put a further question on the Paper, and I will ask the right hon. Gentleman the Chief Secretary if he will be good enough to take the answer of the hon. Gentleman the Financial Secretary for War as a ground for putting the provisions of 1707 the Coercion Act into force against the colonel commanding this regiment, who has boycotted the house of Mr. Carew.