188 MlNXJTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE Mr S Nicholls 10606. They have very great influence with the people, I believe the clergy, in " addressing them from the altar ?— A clergyman who maintains his character fairly 18 May 1038. has a great deal of influence; but a clergyman who is not what he ought to be, is very little thought of. 10607. Then, I suppose the curates were more thought of than the old gentle- man ?— ft is not in that way I mean. 10608. Which of them was most thought of?— In some cases there may be a clergyman of indifferent character. 10609. I am speaking with respect to this old gentleman and his two curates; which was thought most of ?— The curates were thought most of. 10610. Why were they thought most of; what did the old gentleman ever do that was disgraceful or improper?— He was considered indifferent as to the politics of the county. . 10611. Then the old gentleman was indifferent as to politics ? — les. 10612. He was a religious man?— Yes. 10613. A moral man ?— Yes. 10614. A charitable man ?— Yes. 10615. A kind man ?— Yes. 10616. And he was thought very little of as a clergyman of the Roman- catholic church, because he was not a politician ?— He was not so great a favourite with the people as the young men. 10617. The influence of the curates on the people was very considerable?— Yes. 10618. Do you think, now, a man, who had a qualification which entitled him to go and register, and who was a Roman- catholic, and who was one of the con- gregation belonging to one of these two young gentlemen, the curates, if he refused to go, on their requesting him to go, do you think they would be angry with him ? — They might not be pleased with him. 10619. Do you think they would be displeased ?— Very probably they might. 10620. Do you think he would be received at chapel with as much favour as a man who went?— I do not think there would be any disfavour shown him. 10621. With respect to the transactions you gave evidence of in Ballymahon, who were the gentlemen you alluded to when you spoke of their getting people into court?— I consider Mr. Robinson and his son, and Mr. Courtenay, Mr. Lefroy's nephew ; that description of persons; they had a facility of getting their friends into court which the other side had not. 10622. They had the ear of the court, you said ?— Yes. 10623. And they exerted themselves to get particular people in?— Yes, they got their friends in according as they wanted them. 10624. Do you mean to say the barrister interfered to get particular people in, and keep others out ?— I looked upon it as such. 10625. Did you hear the barrister say anything to this effect: " Let such and such persons in, and keep such and such persons out" ?— I have heard the barrister frequently say, " Clear that side of the court," and that was the side of the popular portion, while the others would be let remain where they were, and that part of the court would be cleared out. 10626. That was Mr. Fosberry, the barrister?— Yes. 10627. And he cleared them out because that was the liberal side?— I consider they might have remained where they were if they were on the other side. 10628. Then you think he had them turned out because they were on the liberal side?— I do. 10629. What did you see him do with respect to getting people into the court? — He did nothing all, but the criers and police would allow people to go up to that side according as they were wanted, and they would not the others. 10630. They allowed one side of the court to be empty, and the other to be filled ?— Very nearly filled ; so much so that we were obliged to have criers in different places in the street to get the men up as they were called ; for if a minute elapsed after they were called, they would be passed over, and that put them to great inconvenience. 10631. Did you ever hear any directions given by the barrister to keep the people out on one side, and let them in on the other?— I did not. 10632. Did you ever hear any of the gentlemen you mentioned, who had the ear of the court, interfering with the barrister to let the people in ?— I saw them get a Mr. Jessop registered out of his proper turn. 10633. Tliat