§ 48. Mr. S. MacNEILLasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Captain Bowen-Colthurst was, from the time of the perpetration of the murder of Messrs. Sheehy-Skeffington, MacIntyre, and Dixon in Portobello Barracks on 26th April, left in full military command till 3rd May, when Major Sir Francis Vane, Baronet, having personally communicated to Lord Kitchener the fact of these murders, who then for the first time heard of them, Captain Bowen-Colthurst was placed under arrest in obedience to Lord Kitchener's command sent by telegraph to the Irish military headquarters; whether he is aware that Major Sir Francis Vane, Baronet, having reported these murders to his commanding officer on 27th April, who reported them to the Irish headquarters, and having on 1st May been ordered to hand over the defence of the Portobello Barracks to Captain Bowen-Colthurst, endeavoured unsuccessfully on that day to see General Friend and Sir John Maxwell, but saw Major Price, the staff officer for intelligence at the Irish headquarters, whom he requested to take a note that three men had been shot in Portobello Barracks by a mad officer without authority and without his knowledge; that Major Price consented, if Sir Francis Vane insisted, to take a note of it; and that, on that evening in the House of Commons, the Secretary for Scotland, then Under-Secretary of State for War, stated that, so far as he was aware, no? one had been shot in Dublin by the military without trial; will he say whether Major Price immediately reported to the General Officer in command Sir Francis Vane's communication; when did General Friend and when did sir John Maxwell first hear of these murders; if Major Price did not immediately communicate to them what Sir Francis Vane 194 had reported, why is he still in retention of his position; will he state on what grounds Sir Francis Vane, who was commended for his conduct during the rebellion on the 27th April by Colonel Maco-nochie, C.B., to General Sir John Maxwell, was ordered on 26th May by General Sir John Maxwell to leave Ireland, and, on the 30th June, relegated to unemployment in view of a Report of General Sir John Maxwell; and whether there will be an investigation into the circumstances of Sir Francis Vane's relegation to unemployment and the relation of his dismissal to his report of the Bowen-Colthurst murders to Lord Kitchener and the War Office authorities from whom these murders had been concealed?
§ Sir J. D. REESBefore the hon. Gentleman answers this question, may I ask whether the use of the word "murder" in this question is in order; and also whether it is equally in order to use the word "murder" in connection with the shooting of the men of the Sherwood Foresters during the rebellion?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI am afraid the length of the question rather frightened me off it, and I had not read it.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs it not the case that when a charge of murder has been found proved by a Court it is in order?
§ Mr. FORSTERI have not yet been able to obtain answers to all the points raised in the question. Perhaps my hon. and learned Friend would give me a little more time.