§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDI beg to ask Mr. Attorney General if he can state the number of cases in which jurors have, during the last fifty years, been ordered by the Crown to stand by without cause shown in England.
§ Sir ROBERT FINLAYI find on inquiry that it is impossible to give the particulars asked for, as no record has been kept of the cases.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDMay I inquire if it is possible that a single case cannot be given?
§ SIR ROBERT FINLAYUndoubtedly there have been cases. There is not the slightest question as to the existence of the power, which was settled so long ago as 1807 in a case to which both Lord Campbell and Lord Chief Justice Cock-burn were parties. It is exercised and will be exercised whenever it is required in the interests of justice.
§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)Will the hon. and learned Gentleman give us the benefit of his own experience? Can he tell the House, from his own experience, how often he has seen this practice exercised in the English Courts?
§ SIR ROBERT FINLAYMy practice in the Criminal Courts has been so limited that I am afraid my experience would be of very little value.