The Irish standard., 1888-03-24
CRIME IN IRELAND.

CRIME IN IRELAND.
The Dublin freeman of March 8 re-
ports that the judges in opening the
ASHES on the Monday previous for the
four circuits into which ireland is di-
vided, had little more than to congrat-
ulate the several grand juries upon the
crimelessness of their counties. at
Trim the Lord Chief Baron informed
the grand jury of the county Meath that
there were only six bills to go before
them, none Of which involved any
special feature Or required any obserya.
ton from him; and as regards the
especial report" of the County Inspec-
tor, the Chief Baron found the number
OF cases enumerated by that official, Viz,
eighteen, to be the same as was reported
for the corresponding period Of last
year. At Mulliugar Mr.. Justice Har-
rison was presented with criminal
calendar containing only four cases, The
nature OF which required 10 special re.
marks from him. Still lighter was the
calender for the county Glare, where
MIR. Justice Holmes presided. Only
two bills, and these not of a serious
character, came up tor tbs consider
alton Of the grand jury. Finally, the
Lord Chief Justice, presiding at rulla
more, was able toinform the grand jury
Of She Kings County that cnly three
bills would engage their attention. ALL
this is eminently satisfactory, and is all
authoritative tribute to the customary
freedom of the country from the strain
Of serious "crime. The Freeman CON-
naenting on this remarkable peaceful
state OF Affairs, hints that it may prob
ably be suggested shat Ireland owes
this creditable condition of things to
the operation Of the Coercion Act. Tn.
fortunately for those who would like TO
say so, tho addresses OF the judges yes
tercay were substantially a repetition
OF what WAS delivered in the same
place at tie opening of the Assizes
this time twelve months. Indeed,
twelve months ago, before the Coercion
Act was even in the Parliament ary
stocks, the country, according in the
Judges, was, if anything, freer from
cIiIne than it is now, For example, as
against the six bills for Meath there
were only four last year, and as against
the four cases in Westmeath there was
fer khe corresponding period last year
only oQe case, and in that che Grand
jury found 'tno bill" Only in the
Kings County do we recognize u conl~
parative decrease, namely--three this
time as against five last ysaT. The
contrast is etill favorable even as re-
CARDS those curious productions of Of
fetal industry, the Constabulary re-
turns. The number of cases specially
reported By the County Inspector for
Meath is the same as last year, but in
the Kings County they show a falling
off from what they were twelve months
ago of a third. In Westmeath, how
ever, there is an increase in the present
returns, that is, the number specially
reported is forty two this year as against
thirty-hye this time twelve months, a
curious fact surely for the Coerc;onists.
st Ennis Mr.. Justice Holmes refrained
from any comparative statistics, SO that
we mnst accept without question his
IN 4ha SiIco;TaT ;y-,,,
uent' in the county.
This" concludes the Freeman, lis
50 unlike the extraordinary charge
which Mr. Justice O Brien delivered in |
same place just this day twelve months |
ago, that we have no datum upon
which to show how the Coercion Act
las affected that country, if at all.
There is Just one observation, however,
which Mr., Justice Holmes let fall to
which a word IS due. He assigned as
1 reason, amongst others, for the light
less Of the calendar, that some of
ences which, perhaps if committed at
,ther times would have come before his
tribunal or quarter sessions, had been
disposed o. Mr.. Justice
Holmes, as Attorney-Gsueral, had the
conduct OF the Coercion Bill in the
louise of Commons, and it would be
interesting to know what
'ffence was disposed Of sunmarily un
Ter the Coercion Act, which, if commit
ed at other times, would have come
before the Judge of AssiZe, and under
What particular branch Of the criminal
aw the indictment would have been
Irawn up. Was Mr.. Cox, M. F., for
Instance, guilty Of an indictable offence,
n would She prosecution Of Mr..
Doughty, the English Workingman's
delegate, have been laid in the Assize
Court in the absence Of the Coercion
Act; and if that act had not been passed
would bills have been sent up on Mon
lay to the Grand Jury III the case of
seventeen carowners who swere prose
;uted at Ennis, or in that of Mr.. Nc
Vamara. the news agent. who was