188 MlNXJTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE Mr s Nicholls. might have been the means, if Mr. Reddeck came forward and reported to the magistrates and commanding officer; at all events, it might have been the means 18 May 1838. of having him removed. . . 10546. Then you think a jury could be got to convict the policeman, it Mr. Reddeck had come forward to prosecute ?— I did not think they could. 10547. Then why did y° u aPP] y t0 Mr- Reddeck t0 prosecute ?— Because I thought if Mr. Reddeck came forward to prosecute, it would show there were substantial grounds for the thing; and it would have more weight, he being a Protestant, than if half a dozen Catholics went forward. 10548. Mr. Lefroy.'] At the time of the registry of 1 832, was there not a liberal government in Ireland ?— Upon my word I forget. 10549. Under the Reform Act you forget whether there was what you call a liberal government in Ireland, or not?— I am not certain whether the Marquis of Anglesea was in or not, but I know Lord Forbes had a great deal of interest in the county of Longford, and all reports to the Government should pass through him; and any reports against a policeman he would cushion. 10550. Was there no communication from any man in Longford to the Castle at Dublin but through Lord Forbes?— I am inclined to think not. 10551. You do not know of any communication being made to the Castle at Dublin at that time, except through Lord Forbes?— I did not. To tell you the truth, I knew very little about the Castle at that time ; I was a young man in politics then. 10552. And 110 communications were made to the newspapers of any transac- tions in Longford by any of your club?— Yes, communications were frequently made. 10553' Did not your club make communications to the newspapers of every transaction they thought it material to state ?— I dare say they did; and I dare say these cases were reported in the newspapers too. 10554. The case of the man whose skull was fractured ?— Yes, and the case of Coffey and the tailor's wife being stabbed. 10555. Mr. Serjeant Jackson.] Was it the opinion in Longford that Lord Anglesea, if he was Lord Lieutenant at that time, would not receive any commu- nication of any sort from any quarter, unless it went through Lord Forbes?— That was considered the proper channel to go through; and Lord Forbes, being a cousin of Lord Anglesea, had a good deal of influence with him. 10556. But was it the received opinion in Longford at that time that Lord Anglesea, as Lord Lieutenant, would not receive a memorial or complaint which did not pass through Lord Forbes ?— Yes. 3° 557- That was the general opinion?— Yes: 10558. Of the Liberal Club ?— Yes. 10559. MR- Lefroy.] Was it the opinion, or do you believe that Lord Forbes would, as you say, cushion a complaint against a policeman who had wantonly and barbarously fractured a man's skull under the circumstances you have stated ?— I consider he would. 10560. That is your honest judgment?— Yes, my honest conviction it is. 10561. Mr. Serjeant Jackson.] Do you think if any respectable physician made a complaint ?— I was an apothecary. 10562. Suppose any respectable apothecary made a complaint to Lord Angle- sea of the nature you have stated, that a policeman, without provocation, had fractured a man's skull, do you think Lord Anglesea would not have listened to such a complaint?— Probably he might; but we considered there were certain forms and things to be gone through, and a communication from a humble person would not be attended to. 10563. It would not be attended to by Lord Anglesea ?— Yes. i05() 4. That was the character he bore in the county of Longford with the Li- beral Club, was it ?— I cannot exactly say that; but I know we considered the Castle was such a place, there was no approaching it except through some high quarter. 10505. Mr. Beamish.] I think you say Captain Walker, the magistrate, was present on that occasion ?— He was. 10566. He was a witness of the transaction ?— Yes. 10567. Did he make any remark at that time ?— I cannot say. 10568. \ ou did not hear him make any remark ?— No. 1 Jnf' 6% 7° S nea£ him ?_ I Was Soing UP the steps at the time the accident appened and I believe Captain Walker was remonstrating with the policeman for Having acted so violently. 1 10570. You believe he was remonstrating with him ?— Yes. 10571. You