/ V # 7 SELECT COMMITTEE ON FICTITIOUS VOTES, IRELAND. 175 / 10405. That would be a recommendation to them?— I consider it would. Mr. S. Nkholk 10406. To all the magistrates?— I consider it would, with one or two exceptions. ' 10407. Who are the exceptions?— I consider Captain Skipton and Mr. Hines 18 May 1838, are. 10408. Can you give us any other?— I cannot, for I do not believe Mr. Rock was a magistrate at that time. 10409. And you did not inquire whether Captain Skipton or Mr. Hines were present at the place while the registry was going on ?— I, did not. 10410. You did not consider it your duty to vindicate the law in such a case as that, if possible ?— In that case I did not, because I considered it would be useless. 10411. How could it be useless to inquire whether either of these two good magistrates were there?— I did not know whether they were there or not. 10412. Would not that be a good reason for inquiring?— I was otherwise occupied. 10413. You thought it, then, a matter of very small importance, a man's skull being fractured?— It was a matter of very frequent occurrence. 10414. It was a matter of very frequent occurrence, the fracturing of a man's skull ?— Similar acts of violence were frequent. 10415. It was very frequent, the fracturing of a man's skull for going up to register?— I cannot say that fracturing a man's skull was, but similar acts of violence were. I saw a case where a woman was stabbed through the thigh. 10416. Chairman.'] Was she going up to register ?— No; but^ she was in com- pany with her husband. 10417. Mr. Serjeant Jackson. But in this case, which was the only instance of a man's skull being fractured going up to register, would that not have been a good reason for you to inquire whether either of these two good magistrates were there ?— It might have been. 10418. Did not you think it was your bounden duty to do so ?— I did not think it was. 10419. Do you not think it was now ?— I did not, under the circumstances. 10420. Under any circumstances, do you think it is consistent with the duty of an honest and a respectable citizen to see a man knocked down, and his skull fractured, without interfering to obtain redress ?— I would have interfered if I thought it would have been attended with any good result. 10421. If either of these good magistrates had been there, would it not have been attended with good results ?— I dare say it might. 10422. Then why was it not worth your while to inquire whether they were there or not ?— The probability is, at that time I considered they were not there. 10423. Would it not have been worth your while to inquire?— I dare say it would ; but in the confusion of the thing I did not. 10424. Did either Captain Skipton or Mr. Hines come to that place of registry during that registering sessions ?— It continued six weeks ; they were there fre- quently, and they were frequently absent. 10425. Upon these frequent occasions when they were there, did you not think it worth your while to tell them what had occurred?— No; from the cause I have stated, that when a policeman was charged with an act of violence, it would have been a recommendation to him rather than otherwise. 10426. And it would have been a recommendation to Captain Skipton and Mr. Hines ?— No, I do not think it would; but they had very little influence, compared with the other magistrates. 10427. Then why did not you complain to them ?— I did not think myself called upon ; what is everybody's business is nobody's business. 10428. Then it was no part of your business, as a peaceable citizen and secretary of a reform association, to see that justice was done in a case where, in your own presence, an innocent man had his skull fractured, without the slightest provoca- tion ?— 1 considered it was not likely that any good would result from it. 10429. Why did you think that your excellent magistrate, Captain Skipton, and your other excellent magistrate, Mr. Hines, would not listen to your complaints ?— I consider they would listen to my complaints, if they were convenient. 10430. You say you saw them come to the registering sessions repeatedly ?— Yes. 10431. Then they were convenient?— Yes. 10432. Then if you had gone before them, and made your complaint upon oath, do you not think that either of them, in the discharge of their duty, would have returned your information to the sessions or assizes ?— I think they would. 643. Y 2 10433. Would