§ Mr. HUGH LAWasked the Attorney-General for Ireland whether he can state if it is the intention of the Crown in the case of the King versus John L. Tease to put the prisoner for the fourth time on his trial after three disagreements of the juries already in his case; if so, where it is intended to try him; and, if a fourth trial is contemplated, can he state whether the costs and expenses of such trial will be a charge on the county rates or out of what fund they will be paid?
The HON. MEMBERalso asked how often during the past century has a prisoner in Ireland been four times put on his trial, and is such action without precedent in recent years; whether it has hitherto been the practice of the Crown to discharge without further trial a prisoner after three disagreements of the jury; and whether he can state what is the practice in England in case of two disagreements of the jury on trial of prisoners?
§ Mr. CHERRYIt has been decided, in consequence of the disagreements of the jury at previous trials, to put this prisoner on his trial again at the approaching Winter Assizes at Belfast. The expenses of Crown witnesses in such cases are paid by the county council in the first instance, but the amount is subsequently refunded out of the Law Charge Vote. Counsel's fees and other expenses are paid out of the same Vote. I have no means of knowing how often during the past century a2146W prisoner has been put on his trial for a fourth time. There was a case of the kind in 1890. Each case must be decided on its merits, and no hard and fast rule has been, or can be, laid down. I am not in a position to state the practice in England.