The Northern Whig of yesterday evening supplies some information touching
the legal proceedings at Belfast against_the alleged conspirators.
"The inquiry, into the case of the sixteen prisoners arrested in Belfast on the 5th December, charged with being members of an illegal society, com- menced this day, at eleven o'clock, in the county gaol. It w:'s believed that the authorities had previously determined that the proceedings should be conducted in private, but one of our reporters attended at the gaol and was admitted to the board-room, where the investigation was to take place. He was duly accommodated by the officials, but on the arrival of Mr. Tracey, the stipendiary, bur reporter was informed that the presence of re- presentatives would not be permitted. Mr. Hamilton, Crown solicitor, con- ducted the case on the part of Government; Mr. John Rea, solicitor, ap- peared for the prisoners; but previous to the commencement of the proceed- ings he addressed them, stating that he was about to withdraw from the in- quiry, and gave his reasons for adopting that course. He then handed in to the magistrates, (Mr. Tracey, R.M., and Mr. Robert Thomson, J.P.) a written protest against the inquiry on the following grounds—First, that it was contrary, to practice and repugnant to the spirit of the laws of a free country to hold any judicial inquiry in a common gaol. Secondly, that it was derogatory to the position of an advocate to discharge his duty in each a place. Thirdly, that he considered his personal safety imperilled in the event of any conflict between him and the Crown in such a situation. Fourthly, that the Mayor of Belfast and county magistracy were excluded. Fifthly, that it was unconstitutional to vest the adjudication of such a case solely in the bands of a stipendary Magistrate, and on other grounds. Mr. Rea then withdrew, and the investigation was conducted in strict seclusion. We have ascertained the following particulars—two of the prisoners have turned approvers. The informer, one of the approvers, was examined, and also Mrs. Meliay, in whose house the arrests took place, and her servant. This evidence occupied six hours, at the end of which time the investiga- tion was adjourned until next morning at ten o'clock. It is believed that sufficient has transpired to warrant the committal of some of the prisoners. The extreme secrecy of the inquiry is regarded with great dissatisfaction in the town. In consequence of Mr. Rea's withdrawal the confirmations have not yet been furnished, and the prisoners have been entirely undefended."
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