SELECT COMMITTEE ON FICTITIOUS VOTES, IRELAND. 215 vote, and they did come to my house ; they went up with my parishioners and Rev. E. M'Gaver. voted for the Messrs. White. I authorized them to lay the blame upon me, that I — caused them to do it. 29 May 1838. 12438. Are you yourself an elector?— I am a 50/. freeholder. 12439. And your brother is an elector ?— My three brothers are electors ; two of them are 50/., and my third brother 10/. 12440. Is the hostile spirit of religious animosity on the increase in that county? — It is. 12441. Is the number of ejectments of Catholic tenants increasing?— It is, when an opportunity is afforded. Even at present in Ballynamac, I understand that Lord Lorton has under an ejectment decree 43 families. 12442. Some persons in the employment of Lord Lorton have been assassinated? — Yes, unfortunately they have. i 2443. Protestants, of course ?— Protestants, of course. 12444. What cause has their assassination been attributed to generally?— Not living in the neighbourhood, I cannot say ; but I consider that it is in consequence of their occupying the land of Catholic tenants; that is the general feeling; of course those that committed the murder do not say it, nor is it known who did it; but I take it for granted that that is the cause. 12445. LIas anybody under Lord Lorton been murdered who did not take a part in the ejectment of tenants?— I am not aware of any. There was a murder of a man that was connected with us in the election of 1833, a freeholder, a young man of the name of Reynolds, who was murdered on the night of the election. 12446. Nobody has been executed for his murder?— It was never looked after. 12447. Was not a man taken up?— Gandley was charged with shooting a man upon the night of the election. 12448. But Gandley was acquitted ?— He was. 12449. And the witness that charged this against him was indicted for perjury ? — Yes. 12450. The man was certainly shot?— He was ; I saw him after receiving the wound. 12451. And there is no doubt that no man was punished for it?— No. 12452. Nor for the other murder?— No. There was a third man murdered at Ballynamuck at the canvass for the election of 1833; there was a man murdered, and a man was charged with it and acquitted. 12453. Was the man that was murdered a Catholic ?— The man that was mur- dered was a Catholic, and the man that shot him was a Protestant; it was not denied that he shot him, but he set up a plea of justification. It was a policeman. I travelled the road that day previous to the fact, with Dr. Nicholls and Mr. Roarke, and the crowd followed us ; and whilst we were away at Ballynamuck canvassing this unfortunate occurrence took place. He was tried and acquitted. A man of the name of Gaintry, who preserved this man's life, got into the house ; the party were so infuriated that they were going to throw down the house; he prayed them to desist, and he thereby saved Morrison's life ; he was brought up to give evidence of the transaction. Morrison was acquitted ; he turned evidence, and lodged in- formation against Gaintry and some others who were of that party. Gaintry was tried at the ensuing assizes, found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment, the very man who saved the life of Morrison; and he went further and stated, that Captain Walker, who was the magistrate at Longford, would go in to see him upon the treadmill, he found such pleasure in seeing him punished. 12454. Do the Catholics of the county of Longford feel confidence in the fair- ness of the juries?— The Catholics of Longford have no confidence in the juries in Longford ; it depends upon the sheriff the kind of return that is made. There is a cousin of mine who is a grand juror; and when Morrison was tried, previous to his trial, he had it from a brother juror, that a person went through Longford the night before, asking how many would be ready to acquit Morrison, provided they were put upon the jury. This man felt horrified at such a question being put, and he told it to my cousin. 12455. Were you present at the trial?— I was. 12456. Was your cousin present at the trial?— I should think so. 12457. Had he this information the night before?— No, I think not} ? t was some time after he told me this. 643. 114 12458. How