§ THE DUKE OF MANCHESTERsaid, he begged to call the attention of the noble Lord opposite (Lord Dufferin) to the adjournment by the coroner of this inquiry for three or four weeks—namely, till the 3rd of August. The inquest was on the body of a man who was shot down by the police, they having fired, as he understood, by the order of the sub-inspector of the district. It was most important that the inquiry should be a continuous one, and should be brought to a close as soon as possible; for in the meantime the influence and authority of the sub-inspector would be very much weakened. He would suggest his temporary transfer to a post of equal rank in another part of the country in the event of the Government being unable to direct the speedy resumption of the inquiry. The coroner's reason for the adjournment was his having to attend Assizes in another district, but three or four days would surely have been sufficient for this purpose.
LORD DUFFERINsaid, the Government had been informed of the adjournment with great surprise and regret; but it was entirely within the discretion of the coroner to adjourn for any period he might think proper, and they had no power to interfere. The noble Duke's suggestion as to the temporary removal of the officer was open to the obvious objection that it would naturally be regarded both by him and by the public as somewhat prejudging the case.