§ MR. HAYDEN (Roscommon, S.)I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland is he aware that the boy, P. D. Williams, who is the principal witness in the charge against Sergeant-Major Murphy of the Connaught Rangers, has been arrested for desertion from his regiment which took place on 1st February last; and, if so, can he state who ordered the arrest of Williams, pending the hearing of the charge against Murphy, who is the sergeant-major of the regiment to which Williams belongs; is Murphy at present doing duty as sergeant-major; and, if not, when did he cease to act, and where is he at present.
§ MR. ATKINSONThe reply to the first inquiry is in the affirmative. The arrest was made at the instance of the military authorities. I cannot say whether Sergeant-Major Murphy is at present doing duty, but he is with his regiment at Mullingar, whereas the witness Williams is retained at Dundalk.