§ MR. HAYDEN (Roscommon, S.)I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware that, in the 1136 course of a magisterial investigation in Mullingar into certain charges against Sergeant-Major Murphy, of the Connaught Rangers, it was stated by the Crown Solicitor that he had instructions from the Attorney-General to object to the jurisdiction of the magistrates in regard to a charge of a serious character alleged to have occurred outside Westmeath; and whether, if there be no jurisdiction in the Westmeath magistrates, who have returned this man for trial in Westmeath, to enter into the other charge, it is the intention of the authorities to proceed against him in the county where the other and graver offence is alleged to have been committed.
§ MR. ATKINSONOne offence was alleged to have been committed in county Westmeath, and another of a similar character at Finner Camp, county Donegal. The Westmeath Justices had no power to deal with the latter case, and the Crown Solicitor, by my directions, so informed them. Both cases depend substantially on the testimony of the same witness. I decline to announce the intended action of the Crown pending the result of the first trial.
§ MR. HAYDENAm I to imply that the action of the Government will depend on the result of the case now before the Court?
§ MR. ATKINSONNo, but until the result is known I must decline to state the intentions of the Government.