SELECT COMMITTEE ON FICTITIOUS VOTES, IRELAND. 111 c witnesses in some cases on the other side, and in some of those cases the Mr. G, Gardiner. counsel did not produce any witness to sustain. 8033. Those were not the first cases that were gone into before the Com- 3o March 1838. mittee ?— No. 8034. Mr. Lefroy.] Were there cases that were struck off the register, and re- admitted upon the register by Mr. Tighe ?— There were several. 8035. To what amount in number?— I find that there were six cases rejected in 1833, that were admitted in March and October 1837. 8036. Will you mention their names?— John Corkoran, Edward Kearnan, William Green, Patrick Dowt, Patrick Doyle, and several persons that were rejected by the Committee in 1837. 8037. Mr. M. J. O'Connell.] Were those all rejected upon the ground of value ?— All that I have mentioned. 8038. Mr. Lefroy.'] Did those persons, or any of them, bring forward any evi- dence of the improvement of their farms, when they were admitted to be re- regis- tered by Mr. Tighe ?—" Edward Kearnan produced a lease of 5 acres, 2 roods and 25 perches; rent 5/. 14 s. 3d.; produced a second lease of 10 acres, rent 0 /. 16s. 6d. Irish; thinks both worth 30s. per acre. It appeared, upon the first lease, the stamp was only 5 s., and he paid a fine of 20/. It was argued that his admission of the fine that was in the lease was sufficient. The case was ruled against his requiring an additional stamp. Produced a third lease, for which he paid a fine of 91.; those two were rejected, but afterwards the bar- rister, from reference to the Stamp Act, said that they did not require an addi- tional stamp, as the sum did not exceed 100/. In Corkoran's case, he produced a lease from Mr. M'Avoy, of eight acres; rent 8 /. 6 s. Admits he was struck off by the Committee ; says he would get 45 s. per acre, and is prepared to swear it worth 10/. a year; and was admitted." 8039. Without detailing the particular evidence, unless it is called for, in those several cases, will you look through your notes, and see whether there was any additional evidence given of further improvement in the farms since the time at which they had been struck off ?— I do not see any additional improve- ments in any of those cases. 8040. Was there any evidence brought forward of any improvement, or was any improvement sworn to by the claimant himself?— The claimant generally swore to a higher value than formerly; but I see no substantial improvement, either by building or any additional facts. 8041. But he put a higher value upon his land than he did before ?— Yes. 8042. Mr. M. J. O'Connell.] Have you got the evidence in both cases, both at the first and at the second registry ?— I could refer to the first. 8043. Without referring to the first, howr do you know whether additional value was proved at the second ?— I have referred to the evidence. 8044. Have you made a comparison of the two ?— I have. 8045. Mr. Lefroy.] Have you been present on any occasion when Mr. Tighe has re- registered simply upon a certificate produced, without the appearing of the person who claimed to be admitted to be re- registered ?— I have a certificate of a person, that I mentioned on the last day, of the name of Reynolds, and that was not produced by himself; the man was not present at all; it was one of the political agents, of the name of Roonay, that produced it on his behalf. 8046. According to the practice you have observed in his case, could any person sending in a certificate obtain a re- registry upon that certificate, without more ?— Yes; I am of opinion that at the sessions which are carrying on now, a great number of old rejected persons in 1833 will send in their certificates and get them renewed, from the principle of admission I have seen in October. 8047. And that without any examination of the person who is the bearer of the certificate ?— Without any examination. 8048. Though the person may be either dead or alive ?— Unless we brought a witness to show that he was dead, 01* out of possession. 8049. But the registering barrister does not require any evidence beyond the mere production of the certificate, to give a new certificate to the claimant whose name is mentioned in the old one ?— No. 8050. From your experience at those several registries, do you conceive that the system which has been pursued, is productive of great demoralization of the people, by encouraging false swearing ?— The system that has been pursued since the Reform registry, by which there has been a vast increase of what 643. K 4 I term