In speaking of the boycotting at Milltown Malbay of a certain Mrs.Connell, Mr.Balfour described the case as one of barbarous inhumanity shown to a helpless old woman.

Mr.
Redmond denying this, asserted that he had seen the woman Connell a fortnight ago in Court, and that so far from her being a decrepit old woman, she was only fifty years of age, hale and hearty, but disreputable and given to drink; he also said she was drunk at the trial, so drunk that the Crown prosecutor, Mr.Otter, was obliged to order her down from the table.
"What are the facts ?" I asked.

"Mr.Balfour speaks from report and belief, Mr.Redmond asserts that he speaks from actual observation." "The facts," said Colonel Turner quietly, "are that Mr.Balfour's statement is accurate, and that Mr.Redmond, speaking from actual observation, asserts the thing that is not." "Where is this old woman ?" I asked.

"Would it be possible for me to see her ?" "Certainly; she is at no great distance, and I will with pleasure send a car with an officer to bring her here this afternoon!" "Meanwhile, how came the old woman into Court?
and what is her connection with the cases of boycotting last week tried ?" "Those cases arose out of her case," said Colonel Turner; "the publicans last week arraigned, 'boycotted' a fortnight ago the police and soldiers who were called in to keep the peace during the trial of the dealers who 'boycotted' her.
"Her case was first publicly made known by a letter which appeared in the Dublin _Express_ on the 28th of January.

That day a line was sent to me from Dublin ordering an inquiry into it.