§ MR. DAVITTI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, is he aware that an important telegram in reference to the 82 trial of Sergeant Sullivan, of Mulranny, for alleged forgery, was despatched by Mr. William O'Brien from Westport Post Office to Mr. Valentine Kilbride, Dublin, the solicitor for the plaintiff, and was never delivered; what is the meaning of the explanation of the disappearance of the telegram offered by the Post Office in the letter of the Secretary of the General Post Office, Dublin, that the telegram in question failed in transmission upon the wires between Westport and Dublin; has there been any similar failure in transmission upon the wires in other cases; and, if such failure occurred, why was not notice sent at the time to the sender; and, have the Post Office authorities inquired whether Sergeant Sullivan, the defendant in the action, was in Westport at the time the message was handed in, and whether he or any other member of the police force had access to the telegraph office on that day, or had any opportunity of ascertaining the contents of the telegram.
§ MR. HANBURYThe telegram form shows that this message was apparently despatched from Westport to Dublin, but there is no trace of the receipt of the telegram in the Dublin office. It is a case in which it is difficult to decide where the blame for the failure rests, and the non-delivery is much to be regretted. There have been similar failures in transmission, but they are of rare occurrence. It is the practice, whenever a telegram fails to be delivered immediately, to advise the sender; but in this case it was not known before the attention of the Department was called to the matter by letter that failure had occurred. The Postmaster of Westport believes Sergeant Sullivan was not in Westport at the time the message was handed in. Neither he nor any of the police force could have access to the telegraph office, or in any way ascertain the contents of the telegram.
§ MR. DAVITTIs it not the fact that another telegram, sent by Mr. O'Brien on the same day, was delivered?
§ MR. HANBURYI believe so.
§ MR. DAVITTWill the right hon. Gentleman further inquire into this very disagreeable matter?
§ MR. HANBURYWe have made all the inquiry the Post Office can possibly make. The only other inquiry that could be made, perhaps, is one that might be addressed to the constabulary authorities, as to the whereabouts of Sergeant Sullivan on that particular day.