§ MR. M'GOVERN (Cavan, W.)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, is he aware that on the 27th March, 1902, a letter addressed Miss M. O'Reilly, Carrickaleese, Ballyconnell, was delivered to Margaret Reilly, Carrickaleese, by a rural postman of Ballyconnell Post Office, and that when Margaret Reilly opened the letter she found it contained a money 766 order for £12 payable to Mary Reilly, of Carrickaleese; that Margaret Reilly thereupon handed back to the rural postman the letter and order and told him it was for Mary Reilly, and that when the postman arrived at Mary Reilly's residence, in Carrickaleese, she had died about an hour previously, and that he refused to give the letter to any of her friends; and will he state whether this postman has been asked for any explanation as to what he has done with this letter; and will the postal authorities make inquiry as to whether this money order for £12 has been paid, and, if so, to whom.
(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.)A letter addressed, "Miss M. Reilly, Carrickaleese," was, as indicated in the hon. Member's Question, delivered to a Miss Margaret Reilly, who, finding it was not for her, returned it to the postman. The letter, which was not for Mary Reilly, and did not contain a money order payable to her, was subsequently delivered to the person for whom it was intended.