§ MR. JAMES H. CAMPBELL (Dublin, St. Stephen's Green)I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland if his attention has been called to the case of Mr. William Crawford, of 38, Serpentine Avenue, Dublin, who was arrested on a charge of murder on Sunday, the 23rd January, 1898, and detained in Kilmainham until Thursday, the 27th January, in the absence of the slightest evidence even of suspicion, and notwithstanding a verdict of accidental death at the inquest on Monday, the 24th January; whether he is aware that the representative of the Crown Solicitor in informing the magistrate that he might discharge Mr. Crawford stated that there was no further 875 ground for proceeding with the charge at present; and whether, in accordance with, the course adopted in several similar cases in England, the Treasury will indemnify Mr. Crawford in the costs of his defence?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. J. ATKINSON,) Londonderry, N.The facts appear to be correctly stated in the first paragraph of the question. It is quite true that on investigation Mr. Crawford appeared to be perfectly blameless, and while I regret that he was put to any inconvenience, the Government are unable to indemnify him as suggested.