§ MR. DILLONI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. William Coote, Grand Master of the Orange Lodge at Carntall, county Tyrone, was recently a defendant in an action, Reid v. Coote, in the King's Bench, listed for trial, in which the cause of action was conspiracy to boycott; and that Coote did not go to trial, but settled the action for a substantial sum; and, if so, why Mr. Coote has been continued in the commission of the peace.
§ MR. WALTER LONGI am informed that the action in question was settled without trial by a friendly compromise 1407 on the terms that Mr. Coote should pay to the plaintiff a contribution towards his costs, that all further litigation should cease, and that the parties should resume their former amicable relations. The same controversy came up recently in a case decided by Mr. Justice Barton, but as it is stated that this decision is to be appealed from, it would be obviously improper that the question of Mr. Coote's commission of the peace should be considered pending the result of the appeal.
§ MR. DILLONIs the right hon. Gentleman sure it is the same controversy? I am told it has no relation whatever to the case under appeal. Seeing that this man by his action admitted he was guilty of conspiracy to boycott, why is his name retained in the commission of the peace?
§ MR. WALTER LONGsaid he would make further inquiry. He had given the information supplied him.