inconvenience and expense to myself--I cannot understand how a
newspaper should come to say I had absconded.

Mr. Murphy--I cannot understand it either; I can only tell the facts
within my own knowledge.

Mr. Molloy said it seemed very extraordinary that witnesses should be
summoned, and the crown say they were not.

Mr. Sullivan wished his summons to be examined. Did the magistrates
sign it?

Mr. Dix--Unless I saw the original I could not say.

Mr. J.J. Lalor--Sir John Gray has been summoned as a witness, too. It
is monstrous.

Sir John Gray, M.P.--I wish to state to your worship the unpleasant
circumstances under which I find myself placed. At an advanced hour
on Saturday I learned that the crown intended to summon as witnesses
for the prosecution some of the gentlemen connected with my
establishment. I immediately communicated with the crown prosecutor,
and said it was unfair towards these gentlemen to have them placed in
such an odious position, and that their refusal to act as crown
witnesses might subject them to serious personal consequences; I said
it would not be right of me to allow any of the gentlemen of my
establishment to subject themselves to the consequences of such
refusal, as I knew well they would all refuse. I suggested, if any
unpleasant consequences should follow, they should fall on the head
of the establishment alone (applause). I said "summon me, and deal