§ MR. C. DIAMOND (Monaghan, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland— (1) whether anything has been recovered from the estates of the brothers Gumming, county cess collectors, Monaghan, who were defaulters to a very large amount; (2) whether the sureties have paid anything of the heavy deficit; (3) whether he is aware that one of the Cummings is in a large way of business as owner of mills, and possesses a well-stocked farm, and that the other carries on a public-house in Ballybay; and (4) whether there is any method of compelling the grand jury of the county to make some effort to recover some part of the moneys either from the defaulters or their sureties.
MR. J. MORLEYThe secretary to the grand jury, has written as follows in reply to the several inquiries in this question:—
(1) A very considerable sum has been already recovered and lodged to the credit of the County Treasurers on foot of the defalcations of Henry Cumming and Thomas Cumming, Barony Constables. (2) Portion of the money recovered was levied from the sureties. (3) Both the defaulting Barony Constables have been adjudicated bankrupts at the instance of the County Treasurers; and the Bankruptcy 159 Court is in possession of all their property, and is now realising it. The man who carries on the public-house in Ballybay is not liable as principal or surety. (4) Two of the sureties have also been adjudicated bankrupts. Another surety owns freehold property against which the claim of the County has been registered as a mortgage. Two farms have been put up for sale, but the sale had to be adjourned for want of bidders, and the farms remain on hands. Everything is being; done that can be done to realise the amount still due, and it is believed that the greater part of it will be recovered.