§ MR. O'SHEE (Waterford, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. Justice Johnson, at the assizes for the county of Waterford just concluded, congratulated the grand jury on the crimeless condition of the county, and whether this fact was considered by the law officers of the Crown when it was decided to apply for a change of venue from the county in the case of the Tallow prosecution; and whether, having regard to the character of the Tallow case in the view of the law officers, he can explain why they advised an application for a change of venue.
§ MR. ATKINSONAt my right hon. friend's request I will reply to this question. Mr. Justice Johnson is reported to have congratulated the county on the smallness in number of the crimes committed in it since last assizes. The advice to apply for a change of venue was given by me. The evidence and reasons on which that advice were based are stated fully in the affidavits grounding the motion and in the judgment of the court, to which I beg to refer the hon. Member. I must respectfully decline to answer more fully this question, referring, as it does, to a pending prosecution, inasmuch as a full reply would involve an expression of opinion on the merits of the case.
§ MR. REDDY (King's County, Birr)What is the object of the change of venue? Is it to bring the case before Peter the Packer?
§ MR. O'SHEEIs not the case deemed of insufficient importance to require the 449 attendance of either the Attorney General or Solicitor General?
§ MR. POWER (Waterford, E.)Will any portion of the large costs entailed by the change of venue be borne by the Crown?
§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)Is the object to obtain a conviction by fair means or foul?
§ [No answer was returned.]