§ MR. SEXTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it has been reported to him by the police at Cong, county Mayo, that on the occasion of a recent election for the office of poor law guardian for Cong electoral division, Mr. William Burke, J.P., Cong, agent to Lord s Ardilaun, Kilmaine, and Claremorris, and to several other extensive landed proprietors, caused ejectment processes for non-payment of the last November rent (without even applying for it) to be sarved on several voters in the said Cong electoral division, and on the estate of Lord Ardilaun a few days previously to the election; whether after the election those persons who voted for Mr. William Burke got time to pay the rent, and whether those who voted for Mr. Mark O'Brien, the popular candidate, were compelled to pay up rent and costs at once; whether Mr. Burke and his office clerk, John Kelly, went from house to house accompanied by four policemen, and caused the voting papers to be produced and filled up in their presence; whether the Government are prepared to afford the use of the police for such a purpose; and, whether the Irish Government will take notice of such conduct on the part of a person who holds 904 the commission of the peace to procure his own election?
MR. TREYELYANSir, no complaints as to Mr. Burke's dealings with tenants in the Cong electoral division have been made to the police. I have made inquiries, however, upon the subject, and I am informed that the ejectment processes which were served before the election were in the ordinary course of business, and that Mr. Burke exercised no undue influence on any elector. It is not the case that, after the election, he gave time to those who voted for him, and compelled the others to pay up with costs. Some who voted against him, got time as well as some who voted for him. Mr. Burke is under police protection, and therefore, when canvassing, he was necessarily accompanied by police. His clerk, John Kelly, is also under police protection. It is not the case that they caused voting papers to be filled up in their presence; but some few illiterate voters requested Mr. Kelly to fill up their papers, which was done in Mr. Burke's presence. I have ordered that no such proceeding shall be taken for the future. I have no information before me to show that any improper use was made of the police, or that Mr. Burke took any unlawful steps to pro-euro his election.
§ MR. SEXTONI shall call further attention to this case hereafter.