§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what are the charges upon which the Government have ordered the prosecution of certain tenants on the Massereene estate in Ireland?
THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. JOHN MORLEY, New-castle-upon-Tyne)The proceedings in question have been directed against four persons for unlawfully preventing other persons from dealing with and purchasing cattle in the ordinary course of their 1527 trade; endeavouring to injure certain persons in their trade and business; and unlawfully using threats and intimidation.
§ MR. W. REDMONDasked if these proceedings were taken under the famous statute of Edward III.?
MR. J. MORLEYsaid, these proceedings were taken partly under the statute of Edward III. and partly also under the ordinary commission of the peace.
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)asked, if the right hon. Gentleman was aware that the President of the Local Government Board visited this Massereene estate, and advised the tenants to stick by their organisation and the Plan of Campaign.
MR. J. MORLEYI was not aware that the organisation or the Plan of Campaign had anything to do with the proceedings now before the magistrate.
§ MR. W. REDMONDasked, if the right hon. Gentleman would discontinue the proceedings under the statute of Edward III., in view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman and his friends denounced the late Government for using the statute.
MR. J. MORLEYNo; I cannot divest myself of any legal weapon because of any language used against it.
§ MR. T. SEXTON (Kerry, N.)asked if a Bill was presented to the Grand Jury and thrown out?