§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)A reply was given me by the Home Secretary on Monday last to the effect that the statement quoted from The Times as to the assault on the Rev. F. B. Walsh, after attending an anti-Home Rule meeting in Bermondsey, was exaggerated. I wish now to ask the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the following facts, which are taken from a letter written to The Times by the wife of the unfortunate clergyman:—
The account of Mr. Walsh's injury was not exaggerated in the least. A stone struck his foot, and, on turning; round to remonstrate, one struck the eye, cutting to the bone. Blinded with blood, he staggered to the railing, and another stone caught him at the back of the head, rendering him almost unconscious. He evidently had many blows, for he has many 928 bruises, but everything then was a blank. The blow on the back of the head was most serious, and he is suffering greatly from shock and nervous depression. Mr. Walsh said the street was filled with a howling mob.
§ MR. ASQUITHYes; I adhere in every particular to my former answer, which was founded on the statement made by Mr. Walsh to the Superintendent at the time. What took place appears to have been as follows:—After the meeting broke up a noisy crowd assembled outside; but this did not prevent Mr. Walsh from proceeding to Alscot Road on his way home. After he had proceeded half-way down the street some disorderly lads threw stones, whether at Mr. Walsh or not is uncertain; anyhow he was hit and much hurt. The perpetrators of the outrage ran away before the police arrived; and they could, therefore, do nothing more than assist the rev. gentleman, first to a chemist's shop, where the wound on his face was dressed, and thence to his home.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTOn what does the right hon. Gentleman, who expresses not the slightest sympathy with the rev. gentleman, base his statement that the report was exaggerated? I call attention to the letter in The Times of to-day.
§ MR. ASQUITHMy statement is founded on the information given by the rev. gentleman himself. The hon. Member has spoken of a "howling mob," a description which is not borne out by the evidence of the police, or by the statement made by the rev. gentleman himself at the time.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTThe right hon. Gentleman seems to attribute the words "howling mob" to me. [Cries of "Order!"] I shall certainly move the Adjournment of the Debate if I am interrupted. The words "howling mob" were written by the wife of the rev. gentleman, and the House has a right to assume that they are used with his assent.