S E L E C T C O M M I T T E E O N F I C T I T I O U S V O T E S , I R E L A N D . 175 / 10999. The question is as to M'Laughlin ?—' That is the only reason I have. 11000. M'Laughlin has been in possession ever since ?— He has been in possession ever since. 11001. If his lands were redeemed he had a good right to vote ?— I think so. 11002- 3. With respect to Stephenson, out of how many different denomina- tions of land did Stephenson register ?— He appears upon the register out of three; Killogurteen is one of them. 11004. You stated that part of his land was evicted on the title?— Yes, the life and the lease dropped. 11005. You cannot say, of your own knowledge, that the remainder of the lands he had did not constitute a 501, freehold ?— Indeed I cannot; but I am almost convinced that it did not. 11006. Rut if he was convinced differently, there was no objection to his voting, if he formed that conviction upon what he considered to be a sufficient ground ?— I do not know that; that would be rather a legal question. 11007. You acted as sub- sheriff in 1831, 1836, and 1837, during which of those years was there a contested election?— There was an election in 1836 and 1837; both ; and in 1831. 11008. You took a very active part at this election in 1836 and 1837 ?— Only as sheriff. 11009. You did not take any part with the candidates ?— No. 11010. But you have been very active at other times?— Yes; I was at the election of 1832 and 1835; my brother and I took a very active part for Mr. White. 11011. But not in the years during which you held the office of sheriff?— No; my father was land agent to Mr. White. 11012. Mr. O'Connell Though M'Laughlin was restored to his farm, the other tenants included in the same habere were not restored, many of them ?— No, they were not. 11013. And so it continues, so far as you know, down to the present time ?— I think so. 11014. Besides the leaning that you perceived in the mind of Mr. Fosberry, was there anybody else attending the elections whose conduct appeared to you to be partial; such as the police themselves ?—. The conduct of the police appeared to me very partial during the registry of 1832 and the election following. 11015. And the magistrates?— They were all on the Conservative side. 11016. Did they exhibit a Conservative bias ?— Yes; some of them were very active agents. 11017. Did you see any intimidation held out to prevent people from register- ing ?— Yes; I saw claimants on the Liberal side frequently put back by their landlords and their agents, and threatened that if they went forward to register their cattle would be driven the next day; that they would have them impounded the next day. 11018. To prevent their registering ?— To prevent their registering. 11019. The baronial constables and tax- collectors, who did they take part with ?— On the Conservative side. 11020. Did you see them active upon the Conservative side?— I did; two or three of them. 11021. Do you know Mr. S. Robinson ?— I did know him. 11022. Who is he ?— He is the son of Mr. John Robinson, who is agent to Lady Ross. 11023. Did he take an active part in the registry ?— A very active part on the Conservative side. 11024. What did you see him doing?— I saw him in many instances putting back the tenants of Lord Lorton and Lady Ross that were coming up to register upon the Liberal side, pushing them back and getting them out of court as well as he could; and I heard him in one or two instances threaten to have the cattle impounded if they went forward to register; I heard him threaten a man of the name of Clyne, and a man of the name of Mulveel, that if they registered he would impound the cattle next day, or words to that effect. 11025. Chairman.] Was there any magistrate in the county of Longford upon your side of the question ?— There are magistrates upon the Liberal side. 1 1026. What were their names ?— Skipton and Mr. Hinds. B B 2 11027. Did Mr. James Ternati. 22 May 1P38.