The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-10-22 00:00:00

THE IRISH SECRETARY IN DUBLIN.

RUMOURS OF IMPENDING GOVERNMENT ACTION.

Mr. Bait our arrived in Dublin on Sunday morning,
having travelled by the night mail, and resumed his
official duties immediately. He had a conference on
Sunday afternoon with the Lord Chancellor, the
Attorney-General, and Sir West Ridgeway, who
arrived on Saturday evening. The whole staff of the
Executive are now at their poets. Rumours are
current as to contemplated measures for applying the
Crimes Act more decisively, but the Times correspon-
dent in Dublin does not think the Government, unless
driven to do so, intend at present to proceed to
severer action. The Act is generally (says he) work-
ing satisfactorily, notwithstanding the chock given to
it in the first Press prosecutioas. Cases of boycotting
and intimidation are brought before the resident
magistrates, and the penalties of the law are imposed
with firmness and discrimination. Appeals have
already been heard against some of the first decisions,
and the sentences have been confirmed, so that the
people are now beginning to feel that the law is
really in force. Good results may be looked for from
the steady application of the law, alzhough the
people are taught even in open court to regard it as
an act of virtue t 3 break it and an honour to be
sent to gaol. The state of the county Clare shows
little, if any, improvement; but the authorities hope
by persistent vigour to repress its lawless spirit.
Threatening notices are still sent to obnoxious persons
and boycotting is carried on in defiance of the law.
The following is a copy of a threatening letter sent to
James Calligan, of Cahirshaughnessy, in the Tulla dis-
trict: "Friday, Oct. 8, 1887. Dear Sir,—l mean to
inform you that if you don't give up at once the
grazing on the lands of Ifoyreisk there is a remedy
which will be tried with you al sure as God is in
Heaven. So be the consequences on yourself. There
is two charges against you, one for taking grazing from
an evicting landlord and for giving him money to sub-
scribe to the fund of John O'Callaghan. So remember
now that you got the caution, for my colleagues
are all aware of this. So when they meet you you
will have no excuse. I will say no more, talking is no
use."

POLITICS IN THE POLICE COURT.
At Galway Quarter Sessions, on Saturday, 14 in-
habitants of Ballinasloe who had been tried and con-
victed under the provisions of the Coercion Act for
obstructing the police in the discharge of their duty
appealed to the Recorder. Mr. James Blake con-
ducted the prosecution; Mr. M. Bodkin defended.
Head-constable Hennesey deposed that a couple of
the accused were part of a crowd of about 2000
persons who assembled at the railway station to see
off a prisoner named Barrett. They were shout-
ing and cheering for Gladstone and hooting the police.
In reply to Mr. Bodkin the head constable stated
that Barrett was an evicted tenant who was subse-
quently acquitted. There were no blows struck or
violence offered to the police, nor any attempt made
nor did he believe there was any intention to rescue
the prisoner. He did nos con-ider that cheering for
Mr. Gladstone constituted a crime under the Coercion
Act. Amongst the crowd were the chairman of the
Town Commissioners and some of the most respect-
able inhabitants of Ballinasloe. Acting sergem, t
Doran gave somewhat similar evidence. He considered
the crowd very demonstrative and excited. They were
shouting and cheering for Mr. Gladstone. Cross-
examined as to whether cheering for Mr. Gladstone
was a crime, witness said be expressed no opinion on
that. He was then asked if he did not hear Con-
stable Rylett, in Ballinasloe, swear that cheering
for Mr. Gladstone was an offence under the
Coercion Act. Mr. Blake objected to the
question. His Honour did not think it could
be allowed. Mr. Bodkin asked leave to submit
reasons why it was admissible. The discussion was
interrupted by some on in court crying, "Three
cheers for Mr. Gladstone," which were heartily given.
Mr. Blake asked to have the court cleared. His
Honour directed this to be done. He said it was a
disgraceful scene. He complimented Mr. Bodkin on
the way he had conducted his case, and appealed to
him as a barrister to help him to preserve decorum.
Mr. Bodkin addressed a few words to the crowd, re-
questing them to leave the court quietly, which they
did, but the cheering for Mr. Gladstone was renewed
outside, and the Court was adjourned. The Court
eventually upheld the decision of the magistrates
convicting the appellants. The inprisonment was for
short terms.