HC Deb 30 April 1907 vol 173 cc713-4
MR. COURTHOPE (Sussex, Rye)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on the 18th March last Mrs. Scriven, postmistress at Ballingarry, returned to the General Post Office, Dublin, a letter addressed to herself, marking it refused; whether, when the writ therein contained was posted a second time, it was returned again marked refused; whether he will inquire into the character of this official and the nature of her civil obligations for debt; and whether he will ascertain how the assailants of the postman who was carrying the letters through Gortnahoctee, on the 19th March, were made aware that some of those letters contained processes for debt.

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

The sub-postmistress of Ballingarry did refuse to accept a letter addressed to herself, and she was quite at liberty to do so. She bears a good official character and I see no reason for making any inquiry into the nature of her civil obligations. I have not been able to ascertain how the assailants of the postman at Gortnahoctee became aware of the nature of the contents of the letters, but I can find no reason for believing that information on the subject was divulged by any Post Office servant.