§ MR. MEEHANTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, if his attention has been called to the charge delivered by the judge of assize at Maryborough, Queen's County, on the 3rd instant, when the judge said that the calendar in no way detracted from the character which the county had long borne as an orderly and law-abiding community; can he say what was the result of the trial of the four cases that composed the calendar; and whether he can say up to what period Queen's County was proclaimed under the Crimes Act and were special juries empanelled to try alleged political offences.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce). I have read a newspaper report of the learned judge's address, which was to the effect stated. The result of the four cases comprising the calendar was that one person pleaded guilty, one was convicted, and two were acquitted. Queen's County was proclaimed, under Sections 3 and 4 of the Crimes Act, from 1st September 1902 to 6th February 1906, and I am informed that during that period a special jury was had in one case, namely, a case of incitement to murder, tried at winter assizes, 1902.