§ MR. BODKIN (Roscommon, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been directed to the land appeal of "John Gorman (tenant) v. Lord Ross-more (landlord)," heard in Monaghan on Wednesday last before Mr. Justice Bewley, Mr. Commissioner Fitzgerald, Q.C., and Mr. Commissioner Lynch, and reported in The Freeman's Journal of Thursday last; is he aware that it was proved at the hearing of that appeal 653 that the sub-agent of Lord Rossmore induced the tenant, John Gorman, to sign a document purporting to strip himself of all rights under the Land Act of 1881, the tenant being, as the sub-agent confessed, under the impression that he was thereby merely securing himself in the tenant right of the farm which he had just purchased at a cost of £140, and that the sub-agent further confessed that this practice was a common one on the estate; is he also aware that this document was used on the part of Lord Ross-more both at the hearing of the land case and on the appeal, and that the proceeding was described by Mr. Justice Bewley as a transaction that deserved the highest censure from that or any oilier Court; and whether he will bring the transaction so described by Mr. Justice Bewley under the notice of the Lord Chancellor for Ireland, with the view of determining whether Lord Rossmore shall be permitted to retain the Justiceship of the Peace for the County of Monaghan?
§ * THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. J. MORLEY,) Newcastle-upon-TyneMy attention has been drawn to a report of this appeal case. It appears that the document referred to was the ordinary printed form in use on the estate before the Land Act of 1881, and it was contended on the part of the appellant that a future tenancy was created by the tenant signing this document, and that the tenant was, therefore, precluded from applying to have a fair rent fixed. The Court, however, were of opinion that this contention failed, and confirmed the judicial rent that had been fixed. Mr. Justice Bewley stated that if the sub-agent intended to create a new tenancy by the document without letting the tenant know that such was his intention, the transaction was one which deserved the highest censure from his or any other Court. I am referring the Papers to the Lord Chancellor, with a view to his considering whether any further action is called for in the matter.
§ MR. BODKINCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether Lord Rossmore has in any way repudiated the transaction, considering that the document was used on his behalf?
§ MR. J. MORLEYI am unable to say whether Lord Rossmore has taken any action. As the matter is before the Lord Chancellor, I can add nothing more.