23 4 M m i n u t e s o f e v i d e n c e t a k e n b e f o r e t h e r. D. Meagher, bill- sticker, had done nothing but stick bills ?_ Because I was by when the inyes- _ tigation took place before the magistrate, and there was no other charge against 7 March 1838. ], i, n . autl I saw the charge upon the bridewell- book, because 1 had recourse to that document. f, OOK < 004. At what time was that ?— After the election of 183 » . ? 0Q5 Do you mean to say that it appeared before the magistrates that that man had done nothing but post bills, and that the magistrates nevertheless com- mitted him ?— I was not at the original committal; it was when I called upon the briclewell- keeper to bring the man before the magistrates that the magistrates then sent for the bridewell- keeper and asked him why he kept that man; lie said he had orders to keep him for the election. The magistrate said, " The election is over." " Yes," said he, " but the county election is going onand in the middle of the county election this man was discharged by order of the magistrates, and then the poor man appealed to me on behalf of his wife and family. I made up a subscription and paid his wages for the clays that lie was in prison. 5096. You say that Sheriff White committed him merely because lie stuck bills ?— 1There was 110 other charge against him. 5097. Are you sure that he had not violated the peace?— I do not think he had ; the man told me himself that he had not. The sheriff did not sustain that charge against him. 5098. Did Sheriff White appear before the magistrates at the time of the investigation ?— No. 5099. Who were the magistrates?— The Court of Conscience magistrates; there are but six of them ; Alderman Garde was one of the magistrates. 5100. And Alderman Gibbons?— I do not know. 5101. Alderman Besnard, perhaps?—- It must have been one or two of the six aldermen, but I am sure of Alderman Garde being one of them. 5102. Was there any message sent to Sheriff White to attend?— No; the magistrates were satisfied 011 examining the bridewell- keeper to liberate the man. 5103. Are you prepared to state that Sheriff White would commit that man to prison without his committing any offence ?— That is to me as great a surprise as it is to the Committee ; but I think he did. 5104. Did you happen to see anybody who was by at the time the man was arrested ?— No; but there wras no other charge against the man at all. 5105. There may have been 110 other charge on record in the bridewell- book, but ought you not to have a little more ground than that for bringing so grave a charge against a public officer as that lie would commit a man to gaol without that man having done anything more than sticking bills?— I gravely charge it; and I would have had an action brought against the sheriff, but for want of ways and means, and from having so many claims upon me for other matters ; and 1 think he ought to have been prosecuted for the act, ,5106. Are you aware that you could bring an action for the trespass and false imprisonment against the sheriff for a few shillings, and recover damages to the amount of 51, before the assistant barrister ?— I did not know that; I thought it wras an assize case, and attended with great expense. 5107. Are you not aware that there are quarter sessions held regularly four times a year, and that the assistant barrister presides and has jurisdiction over that subject matter, and that for a few shillings you can bring a civil bill and recover damages to the amount of five guineas?— I was not entirely acting upon my own judgment; another party said it would be throwing money away to follow it up. We paid him his wages, and gave it up. 5108. Surely he would have recovered his five guineas damages if lie brought that proceeding, if the case were as you have stated ?— I think he would ; but I did not want to annoy myself any further. 5109. If that man was made a victim of when lie was in the service of your party surely it would have been attended with but a few shillings expense to have brought that action ?— I do not think he was in our employment; he was in the employ of some printer ; but he was posting up the state of the poll. 5110 Do not you think that if so flagrant an outrage as that was committed by the high sheriff of the city of Cork, you owed it to public justice to vindicate the cause of that poor man ?— I did owe it to him ; but I was worn and tired out, and