The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-11-06 00:00:00

TEE STATE PROSECUTIONS IN
_ IRELAND.

The Dublin Correspondent of The Times, writing on Tues-
de.Y, says :
" Tht prosecution of the Land Leaguers is no longer
th.tuitour or threat, but an indisputable fact. At six
b'tlock this evening the criminal information, ex officio,
bf the Attorney-General was filed in the Crown Office
N:ainst the following fourteen traversers :—Charles
Otewart Parnell, John Dillon, Joseph Gillis Biggar,
Timothy Daniel Sullivan, Thomas Sexton, Patrick
Egan, Th omas Brennan, Malachi M. O'Sullivan, Michael
P. Boyton, Patrick Joseph Sheridan, Joseph Gordon,
Matthew Harris, John W. Walsh, and John W. Nally.
The information contains 19 counts, charging the tra-
versers with conspiracy to prevent payment of rents, to
defeat the legal process for the enforcement of rent, to
torevent the letting of evicted farms, and to excite ill-
Will between different classes of Her Majesty's sub-
jects. These are substantially the charges, which
are expended in the several counts in the technical
Phraseology. The first five traversers above named
are members of Parliament and of the Land League,
the next four are office-bearers and prominent mem-
bers of the League, and the last five are its active
81IPPorters and champions in the country. Up to
tUS last moment there appeared to be some doubt
as to where the prosecutions would be proceeded
With, but the filing of the informations has put an
end to all doubt or suspense. A rumour was cir -
dilated in town this evening to the effect that Mr.
Dillon) M.P,, had been arrested at the Limerick Junc-
tion Oh hla way to join Mr. Parnell, but it was quite
Untotinded. It was never contemplated that any
hiltsts should be made in connection with the State
Vflesecutions. The Crown will be represented by the
°owing counsel :—The Right Hon. the Attorney-
tieneral, the Solicitor-General, the Law Adviser, Mr.
erjeant Heron, Mr. Murphy, Q.C., Mr. C. Molloy,
and Mr. David Ross; and five of the traversers by
the following counsel :—Mr. W. M'Loughlin, Q. C. , Mr.
I". O'Brien, Q.C., Mr. Crean, Mr. D. Lynch, and Mr.
Adams. The traversers will be called upon to plead
Within four days to be named in the subposna. A
remote day, five or six days hence, will be named, so
that the pleading may be contemporaneous. It is
calculated that with ordinary iiligence the trial ought
to commence in a month. The jury will be struck
Under the old system. and this will be a rather tedious
Process. •

"If the public feeling respecting tho prosecution
tuay be estimated by the appearance of 'the Hall'
....to-day on the re-opening of the Courts after the Long
v acation, the Crown has no reason to fear that the
trial of the traversers will be prejudiced by any popu-
lar excitement. The attendance of the Bar and
Visitors was not larger, but rather smaller than usual,
and there was not the slightest indication that any
!vent beyond the common-place routine of legal
°llainess was expected. The benchers met about
twelve o'clock, and tire Judges, in full judicial cos-
tume, took their seats in their respective courts for a
Short time. The new serjeant (Mr. Heron) was formally
11,formed by the Lord Chancellor that Her Majesty
'lad been pleased to appoint him her third Serjeant-
at-Law, and took his place accordingly. The Soli-
citor-General Was elected a bencher. He was called
tO the Bar in 1853, and was made Queen's Council in
1872. Before half-past two o'clock every court was
ehut, and there were not more than forty persons,
including the fruit vendors, in the hall. A stranger
tflight have supposed it was the day after 'term,'
instead of the first day of the sittings. As to the
Porrolace there was not the least sign of any interest
or even knowledge that the chosen leaders of the people
l'rere to be proceeded against. The prosecutions af-
forded a subject of discussion among professional gen-
tlemen and various surmises, speculations, and pre-
dictions were indulged in, but the public manifested
no concern about them."