The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-04-22 00:00:00

TOE WESTMEATH COMMITTEE.

The Select Committee appointed to inquire into the
state of Westmeath, and certain parts adjoining of
Meath and King's County, and th 3 nature, extent, and
effect of a certain unlawful combination and con-
federacy existing therein, Lave could -hired the matters
referred to them, and have agreed to the following
Report
That there Is at present existing wlth'n the county of
Westmeath and certain adjoining portions of the county of
Meath and of the Keg's couery an masa fat combination
and confederacy Ito secret nature, gcnerary gnovra by the
Tier. of the Riband B,..clety. That Ms Rlband Society has
existed for a considerable length et time, and has within
the last three years, as compared with those Imme-
diately prec,chne, increased In p,wer end 11 finance That,
owing to the prevAlence of this society, minder and other

crimes of the snort serious nature have been perpetrated
within the district above referral to, and that by reason
parity of sympathy with the perotraters of retch crimes,
and .11n more by the terror Created by the exisrence and
• On of the society, It has been found to be 5105051 import&
hie to obtain evidence on which to bring t Handers tojustlee.
That such Immunity from detcction and consequent prmish-
men: has had for its remits an tecoursgsment to Crime,
the diffusion of a spirit of lawlessness, nod a curre.ponding
decrease of confliterme in the power of the law among the
peaceful member. of the community. That this aoctely,
uriginaleg in a de sireon the part of 'remembers to interfere
In an unlawful and violent mover in matters relating to
the tenure and occupation of laud, has ester ded the sphere
of its operations, and more or leis prejudicially a+f; c -s other
relations e f life. 1 last this frocisty La.s adherents and sup-
porter. artless the farming classes in the district, and some
ismpath'arrs among a certain class of snnil trucks. In the
towns, lint secret-en. ra he al, fir from faint set vants and
daily labourer. ; and that these persons are ender the control
of A fear individuals who may he looked upsn as the heads
tithe society, and are alleged to he known as atch to the
local anherities. That the .ocl ly, built. leading directly
to the perpetrator, of the iTiMee already mentioned, has in-
fused a feeling of terror into all cranes in the district, by
reason of which Its obj.cts are frequently brought
about without any overt act of ti deuce. That the
Peace Preservation Act, while largely intending the
mean. previourly existing for the ',revelation and de-
tection of crime, and cont,ining for that purpose
ffactive and useful provisions, has not f ureishal the
Executive with all the power necessary to deal with crime of
that et:lonized and recret nature which character'en the
district in Treanor. That the authorities heve end eavrnoed
vigorously to carry Into effect the existing law, incluoing
the Peace Preservation Act ; but, owing to the causes re-
-
ferred to, they have rarely been able to make amenable to
attic., the perpetrators of toe crimes, and in no Instance
any one as a leader or organ'zrr 01 ,00 P.Mand 92eety.'