§ Mr. MOOREasked the Chief Secretary whether, before the appointment of Mr. John R. Crozier, of Ederney, county Fermanagh, to be a Justice of the Peace for county Fermanagh, the Lord Chancellor of Ireland was aware that this gentleman, when sued at the Easter Sessions, Enniskillen, for a sum of £10, in the witness-box denied the debt; that the county court judge, having heard the case, stated in open court that he did not believe Mr. Crozier, and would have given a decree against him but for a legal defence raised by his solicitor, and refused Mr. Crozier expenses on the ground that he had told what was not the truth; did the Lord Chancellor make any inquiry from the lieutenant of the county before the appointment; and, if not, will he suggest to the Lord Chancellor that such inquiry would be desirable before similar appointments are made?
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§ Mr. BIRRELLI am informed by the Lord Chancellor that he was not aware before the appointment of Mr. Crozier to the Commission of the Peace of the proceedings at Quarter Sessions referred to, and accordingly no inquiry was made in the matter. It is not within my province to make any suggestion to the Lord Chancellor as to the inquiries he may consider it necessary to make before appointing gentlemen to the Commission of the Peace.