Mr. Ginnell, M.P., was charged yesterday week with con- tempt
of Court in having advocated cattle-driving on an estate under the control of the Land Court, and sentenced to six months' imprisonment by Mr. Justice Ross. As Mr. Ginnell did not appear in Court, or enter any defence, a warrant was immediately issued for his arrest. This he evaded until Monday afternoon, when he appeared in disguise at a demonstration at Killucan organised to welcome five released cattle-drivers. After revealing his identity to the police, and promising to surrender if he was granted a few minutes to address the meeting, Mr. Ginnell resumed his disguise and contrived to slip away, but was run to earth ten miles off later in the day, brought by train under a strong constabulary escort to Dublin, and lodged in Kilmainham GaoL Perhaps the best comment on this episode is to be found in Mr. Birrell's speech at Belfast on November 22nd :-
"My fingers are itching to prosecute him [Mr. Ginnell], but it
is my business to put some restraint upon myself The passion of Mr. Ginnell's life is to go to prison, and if he were there for four or six weeks he would come out all the more powerful and influential to engage in this kind of work." It is stated that Mr. Justice Ross has in this matter acted entirely on his own initiative and without any suggestion from the Government. If that is so, and his action proves effectual, the words we have quoted show how impossible it will be to assign the credit to Mr. Birrell.
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