SELECT COMMITTEE ON FICTITIOUS VOTES, IRELAND. 69 1302. Would not that likewise tend considerably to diminish the should think it would. expense ?— I Mr. John Colburn rn. get 1303. Must it not necessarily, in the nature of things?— I think so 1304- Mr. Lucas.] Suppose an honest witness wishes to come forward at the registry to give evidence as to the claims of his neighbours, will not that honest - witness be more likely to come forward if he could find his neighbours all in one day, or under one head, than if he had to seek for them amongst the whole mass of the inhabitants of the county of the city of Cork?— I should think so. 1305. Therefore if the claimants to register were classed as to the locality in- stead ot bemg classed as to the letter of the name, would there not be a heater facility of getting independent and unprejudiced witnesses than at present?— They would have less trouble, and would be more likely to come forward. 1306. Mr. Beamish.] You do not mean to say, that by reason of that you would : a better class of witnesses ?— I do not think it would vary the character of the witnesses. 1307. Mr. Lucas.] Would it not be more convenient for witnesses 011 all sides if the claimants were classed as to the locality ?— I should think so. 1308. Mr. Serjeant Jackson^] It appears that a gentleman of the name of Gahan was one of those employed to register at the general registry, under the Reform Bill in 1832?— Yes. 1309. A large number of persons came forward to register at that time?— A great number. 1310. Did you attend the registry at that time?— I did. 1311. Had you known Mr. Gahan as a professional gentleman before?— Very little ; I had seen the gentleman, but I cannot say that I was very intimate with him. 1312. Have you ever seen him engaged professionally in anything?— Never. 1313. Did you know a person of the name of William Sheehan, of Barrack- street, in the city of Cork?— I cannot charge my recollection at this moment that I do ; I see that there was William Sheehan, of Barrack- street, a 40s. free- holder. 1314. How did that man register at first?— He registered, under the Reform Bill, as a 40 s. freeholder, out of a house and ground at Barrack- street, in the city of Cork. " 1315. Have you a recollection of an affidavit, in which the party registered as out of a house, being altered after he made the affidavit so as to include land as well as the house, and your calling upon the gentleman who presided, when you discovered the alteration, to authenticate it with his initials?— There was some- thing of the kind ; but I cannot be positive as to whether it was the addition of the land or what it was. 1316. Was there not, in fact, an alteration made in the affidavit after it was sworn, and did you not, in the discharge of your duty, require that that alteration should be initialed ?— I think I did, but I cannot answer so serious a question positively ; there was something of the kind, but I cannot charge my recollection with it at this moment. [ The Witness examined the affidavits in his possession.] 1317. Have you now looked amongst your documents, and have you been able to find any document of the description referred to?— I find a 405. affidavit of William Sheehan, of Barrack- street, in the city of Cork; one of the old affidavits before the registry. . . 1318. Was this produced at the registry of 1832, for the purpose of that indi- vidual being re- registered ?— It was. . icjio Was any alteration made in that document?— I find this memorandum : " 2d of November 1832, Mr. Gahan initialed the above;' and there are his imti320. You now produce an original affidavit, which appears to have been made for the purpose of registering at the sessions of peace held at the Gu. ldha ni the city of Cork, on the 22d of April iS3o?- Yes, that is one of the original 40*. i! S That was the registry effected before the recorder of the city of Cork ? That William Sheehan, who registered originally under this affidavit came forward for the purpose of registering in 1832 before Mr Gahan - He did and there is his affidavit; and he ^- registered the 23d of Octobei, with Mi. Gahan s 19 February 1838. signature. 0.46. K 3 1323- On I 1 j