POOR LAW (NORTH DUBLIN UNION).
RETURN to an Order of the Honourable The House of Common*,
dated 3 May 1855 ;—for, A COPY " of the Minutes of Evidence taken, and of the Report made to the Poor Law Commissioners (Ireland), by Charles S.
Crawford, Esq.,
Poor Law Inspector, on an Investigation held as to the Validity of certain Claims to Vote by Proxy at the Election for Guardians of the North Dublin Union, and lodged with the Clerk of that Union on the 1st day of February 1855."
*"
Poor Law Commission Office,!
W.
STANLEY, Dublin, 11 May 1855.
J Secretary.
(No.
7294/55O
Minutes of Evidence taken by Mr.
Crawford on the Investigation.
Inquiry into Proxy Papers.
James Henry Crean, sworn: I am clerk and returning officer of the North Dublin Union ; I received the several proxy papers forwarded by me to the Poor Law Commissioners on the 1st of February last ; 1 do not know the party by whom they were delivered ; T had not to my knowledge seen the party before, and I could not say that T would now bo able to identify him ; Mr.
Francis Byrne came to the workhouse subsequently, and signed the proxy papers for the North Dock Ward, and Mr.
Patrick Byrne signed the papers for the Inns Quay Ward in my presence; the papers were all delivered in one parcel ; the Messrs.
Byrne, on signing the papers, cancelled the former .signature.—J.
II.
Crean.
John Bay nail, sworn: I reside at No.
24, Mary's Abbey, Dublin ; I look at the proxy papers for the North City Ward, now submitted to me ; the signature of John Bagnall, as proxy, was not written by me, nor did I authorise any party to attach my signature to those papers ; I was not asked by any party to giyo authority to do so ; I think I was told some time last autumn by Mr.
Thomas Arkins, that I might expect proxies for the North City Ward ; I was not aware of my name having been attached to any proxy papers until after I received a summons to attend here to give evidence this day; 1 do not know any of the parties who profess to have appointed me their proxy; I decline to answer any further question asked me relative to any conversation I have had with Mr.
Arkins relative to the lodgment of these proxy papers ; I cannot recollect at pre¬ sent the name of the landlord to whom I pay rent for my house at No.
24, Mary's Abbey; it is not Maria Pullin; I now recollect it is Whitelaw, of Ardrass, Celbridge; I bave lived for 23 years in that house, and never knew any party of that name to have an interest in the premises ; there are many landlords having intermediate interests in the premises in Mary's Abbey; I have a lease of my house at GO I.
per annum, but the rent is reduced to 50 /.;
I do not know any¬ thing more of the proxy papers than I have already stated; but I still decline, under the directions of counsel, to answer any further question relative to my having had any conversation with Mr.
Arkins on the subject, in addition to what I have already stated; I am ready to adopt the signature to these proxy papers, if correct.—John
Bagnall.
257.
A " Michael ^
