SELECT COMMITTEE ON FICTITIOUS VOTES, IRELAND. 1350- What reason did he give for 71 signing it ?— He gave me no reason for Mr. John Colburn of authenticating o signing it. 1351. Mr. Lefroy.] Was not his signature for the purpose that such an alteration had been made ?— Certainly. 1352. Mr. Beamish.-] He did not say that he had desired the alteration to be made ?— He did not say that he had done it; but I presume by his initialing it that it must have been done with his sanction or by him. 1353- In consequence of your having heard that an erasure had been made upon the original affidavit, you requested him to out his signature to it, for your satisfaction, and be did so without saying that he had sanctioned its bein<* done or giving any other reason for it?— He did : but, for my own satisfaction, having heard that it was done, I applied to him to initial it, being responsible for the care of it. 1354. Are you aware whether the number of marksmen which there appear to have been was by reason of the incapacity of the parties to write, or whether it was done from the rapidity with which the" parties were obliged to serve notices? — I am satisfied that it was done to get registered, to get the certificate in time; there were some people that could not write; there were other persons whose hands may have been incapacitated at the time; there were some that had the gout; and I know that some very active persons filled in the affidavits, and that many men were sent in as marksmen who could write ; I believe that Mr. Maher did that. 1355- Mr. Serjeant Jackson.] Do you know that Mr. Maher did that in many instances ?— I cannot say that he did it. 1356. Would you think it a right thing to do if the man could really write?— 1 think it is very wrong. 1357. Do you know that, in point of fact, any man did sign as a marksman that could write?— I cannot say that I do. 1358. Are the people that inhabit within the county of the city of Cork very much in the habit of having the gout?— There are a great number of respectable persons whose names appear as marksmen. 1359. Do you know any respectable persons whose names appear as marksmen ? — I cannot name any particular one. 1360. Have you in your recollection any respectable gentleman signing as marksman?— I cannot name any. 1361. Did you ever notice the fact that any person who could write signed as a marksman ?— I cannot say. 1362. Did you ascertain that ?— I did not. 1363. Therefore you have no facts to warrant you in saying that any of those persons whose names appear with a mark could really write their names?— I cannot state any particular instance of it. 1364. And, in your opinion, that would be an improper thing for any person to cause to be done ?— Yes. 1365. Do you think it would take less time for another person to write the name of the " individual, and for that individual to put his cross, than for the person to write it himself ?—' That would depend upon the manner in which the man wrote. Some of those persons who write very badly may take two or three minutes to write their name, whereas a smart fellow that filled up the affidavit would just put down the name quickly, and the man would put a cross. 1366. But you cannot say that that was done in any instance ?— I cannot say. 1367. Mr. Beamish'] To the best of your belief, was it done ?— If I was to form a belief upon it, I believe that it was done. 1368. In many cases?— I cannot say in many cases. 1369. Mr. Serjeant Jackson.] Did anybody tell you that it was doner- 1 cannot charge my recollection. , . 1 370. So that you neither saw it yourself nor heard anybody say that it was done,' and yet you are ready to form a belief that it was done ; what groundsTiave you for that belief, particularly as you are aware that it was a wrong thing to do why should you believe that such a thing was done without any grounds.- it was done, I am sure it was done to facilitate the thing. , - T Mnnnt 1371. Mr. Litton.] Did Mr. Maher ever tell you that it was doner- 1 cannot say whether he did or not. 0.46. K 4 19 February 1838. 1372. Mr. ' V