§ MR. J. E. REDMOND (Waterford)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to a paragraph which appeared in the London correspondence of the Manchester Evening Mail on 4th March, 1892, in which it is stated that a certain ex-Inspector of police in the provinces absconded; whether the police officer referred to is the Inspector who was the chief witness for the Crown in the prosecution of James Egan and John Daly for treason-felony, and who was in charge of the police who arrested both of them; whether this Inspector has absconded, and whether any charges affecting this Inspector's official career have come to the knowledge of the authorities; whether he is aware that a public testimonial to the Inspector, headed by the Mayor of Birmingham, and another promoted by the police of that city, were abandoned at the request of Mr. Farndale, Chief Constable of Police, acting on behalf of the authorities, and in consequence of the allegations in question having come to their knowledge; and whether, as John Daly and James Egan were convicted largely on the evidence of this Inspector, an investigation will be instituted by the authorities into his official career?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI have not seen the newspaper paragraph mentioned in the question, but I learn that its effect is correctly stated. I understand that the officer referred to is ex-Detective Superintendent Black, of the Birmingham police, who was a witness at the trial of Egan and Daly. He was not the officer in charge of the police who 23 arrested Egan and Daly. Mr. Black writes to me from Birmingham that he has not absconded, and his statement is confirmed in an official Report which I have received from the Chief Constable. Mr. Black also informs me that it is his intention, in consequence of these allegations, to place the matter in the hands of a solicitor, with a view to vindicate his character. It is the fact that a meeting was held by a number of the inhabitants of the City of Birmingham, but not headed by the Mayor, with the object of raising funds for a testimonial to Mr. Black, and that subscriptions were invited in the local newspapers. I am informed that Mr. Black put an end to the project himself by publishing a letter in which he respectfully declined the testimonial. This letter led also to the abandonment of a movement on the part of the police to collect subscriptions from the general body of the Force. The Chief Constable was not spoken to on this subject, and did not request that the subscriptions should be abandoned. I do not admit that Daly and Egan were convicted largely on the evidence of this officer. I am not aware that the Watch Committee of Birmingham intend to institute an investigation into his official career.
§ MR. J. E. REDMONDThe information I have is of such a character that I must ask the right hon. Gentleman another question in reference to this matter. I desire to ask him whether allegations have been made against this police officer of having been engaged for years in a criminal conspiracy; whether the authorities, as soon as these allegations came to their knowledge, went or sent to the testimonial committee and intimated that the testimonial proceedings should be stopped; whether the letter which the right hon. Gentleman has alluded to as having been written by Mr. Black, asking that the testimonial proceedings should be stopped, was written at the instance of the police authorities; and, if these facts are so, whether, in view of the important part played by this police officer in the trial and conviction of Daly and Egan, the right hon. Gentleman will consider the propriety of instituting a judicial investigation into the circumstances?
§ MR. MATTHEWSThe officer to whom the hon. Member refers is not under my control, but under that of the Watch Committee, and I have no power to order a judicial investigation into his conduct. With regard to the defamatory statements the hon. Member has thought it right to put in the shape of a question, they are, so far as my information goes, inaccurate.