New-York tribune., 1920-08-07
Power to Exil e
Lies in Irish
Coercion Bill
Measure Retroactive, Pris-
oners Already Under SEN
tence Can BE Moved to
Amy Part of Kingdom
Court Martial Supreme
IL Courthouse Is Burned
Trials May Be Held in
Various Other Buildings

/ J.
whom sentences of imprisonment have
been passed in Ireland can be conveyed
to and detained in any prison in the
United Kingdom under the terms of
the Irish coercion bill which passed
the third reading to-day in the British
House of Commons, the text of
which was made public here to-day by
the British Embassy. This section of
the measure applies to persons already
sentenced as we'll as those who may
hereafter be sentenced
In general the new law would trans
fer the duties of crown tribunals in
Ireland to courts-marti The military
courts also would take over the duties
of coroners and would have the power
to decide cases without jury.
Text of Coercion Bill
The text of the bill follows:
"GD Where it appears to his ma
jesty in council that, owing to the ex-
istence of a state of disorder in Ire
land, the ordinary law is inadequate
for the prevention and punishment Of
crime or the maintenance OF order, his
majesty in council may issue regula-
tions under the defense Of the realm
consolidation act, 1914 Hereinafter
referred to as the principal act). for
securing the restoration and mainte-
nance Of order in ireland and as to the
powers and duties for that purpose of
the Lord Lieutenant and the Chief Sec
retary and of members of his majesty's
forces, and other persons acting on his
majesty's behalf, and in particular
regulations for the special purpose
hereinafter mentioned.
"(2) The provisions of the principal
act with respect to the trial by courts-
martial or courts Of summary jurisdic-
tlcn and punishment OF persons COM
hitting otfenses against the defense
of the realm regulations shall extend
to the trial and punishment Of persons
who have committed crime in ireland
whether before or after the passing OF
this act, including persons committed
for trial against whom indictments
have been found; so, however, that:
"(a) Amy crime when so tried shall
be punishable with the punishment as
signed to the crime by statute or COM
mon law.
Death Trials Defined
"(b) A court martial when trying a
person charged with a crime punish
able by death shall include as a men,
Der OF the court ore person (Who need
not be an oficer) nominated by the
Lord Lieutenant, being a person cert-
fed by the Lord Chancellor Of Ireland
or the Lord Chancellor of England
to be a person of legal knowledge and
experience, and regulations under the
~. 1Y1f,l mol ha ,fo Il
"(3) Regulations so made may also:
"(a) Provide that q court Of sum
mary jurisdiction when trying a per-
son charged with a crime or with an
offense against the regulations when
hearing and determining any applica-
ton with respect to Il recoenizance
shall, except in the Dublin mctropoli-
tan police district, be constituted OF
Two or more resident magistrates, and
that court of quarter sessions when
hearing and determining an appeal
against a conviction OF court OF sum
mary jurisdiction for any such crime
or otfense shall be constituted of the
recorder or county court Judge sit
ting alone.
'(b) Confer on court-martial the
powers and jurisdiction exercisable by
justice or any other civil court fer
binding persons to ep the peace or
i
enforcing recognizancc and for COM
pelling persons to give evidence and
to produce documents before the court.
Authority Over Witnesses
"(c) Confer on persons authorized
to summon witnesses before a court
martial the power OF issuing warrants
for compelling persons to attend as
witnesses, and any warrant SO issued
shall have the like effect and be ex-
ecuted in the like manner as issued
by a justice OF court of summary juris-
diction having jurisdiction in the place
in which it is executed or sought to
be executed.
"(d) Authorize the imposition by
courts-martial of fines in addition TO
or in substitution for any other punish
ments for otfenses against the regula-
tions, as well as for crimes, and pro
vide for the manner in which such
fines are to be enforced.
"(e) Authorize the conveyance to
and detention in any of his majesty's
prisons in any part Of the United
Kingdom of any persons upon whom a
sentence of imprisonment has been
passed in Ireland whether before or
after the passing of this act
"(f) Provide for any of the duties
of d coroner or any coroner's jury be-
ing performed by a court of inquiry
constituted under the army act in
stead of by the coroner and jury
"(g) Provide that where the court
house or other building in which any
court has been usually held is de-
stroyed or rendered unfit for the pur-
pose, the court may be held in such
other courthouse or building as may
be designated by the Lord Lieutenant.
Trial Without Jury
"(h) Authorize the trial without jury
of any action, counter claim, civil bill,
issue, cause or matter in the High Court
or a county court in Ireland which
apart from this provision would be
triable with jury
"GD Provide for the retention of
sums payable to any local authority
from the local taxation Qreland) ac-
count or from any Parliamentary grant
or from any fund administered by any
government department or public body
where the local authority has in any
respect refused or failed to perform its
duties, or for the purpose CT discharg-
ing amounts awarded against the local
authority in respect of compensation
for criminal injuries or other liabili-
ties of the local authorities and for
the application of the sums so retained
in or toward the purpose aforesaid.
"(4) Any such regulations may ap-
ply either generally to the whole of
ireland or to any part thereof and
may be issued at any time, whether be-