The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-02-05 00:00:00

A SChNE IN THE DUBLIN BANK-
RUPTCY COURT.

On Friday in the Bankruptcy Court, before Judge
Boyd, the case of Thomas Moroney, tenant farmer
and shopkeeper, Herbertstown, county Limerick, was
listed for the first public sitting. On the last day on
which the case was before the court, Mr. Moroney
was examined by Mr. Gerrard, Q.C., on the part of
the assignees. with reference to the adoption of the
Plan of Campaign by the tenants on the O'Grady
estate, where Mr. Moroney holds his land. Mr. John
Dillon, M.P., and Mr. William O'Brien arrived in tbe
court at 11 o'clock, before the judge had taken his
seat, and occupied places on one of the benches beside
Mr. Moroney during the proceedings. When Moroney
was called into the witness-box, and when the Regis-
trar tendered him the Book, he said: I refuse to take
the oath. Judge Boyd: On what grounds do you
refuse? Mr. Moroney: From the notice to qedt—l
beg your pardon, notices to quit are so much in my
mind I made the mistake; but for the notice to
attend this bankruptcy court, Judge Boyd. Now,
look you here, sir, I beg to give you notice at once
that I won't. Mr. Moroney (standing up in the
witness-box and holding out his hands):
Far dearer the grave or the prison,
Illumed by one patriot name;
Than the trophies of all who have risen.
On Liberty's ruins to fame.
Ju3ge Boyd: You had better behave yourself. I
won't allow any improper language to be made use of
in this court. Mr. Moroney: I have a great power
on my side—God and my country. Judge Boyd:
Have a care, sir, take the book and listen to the oath.
Mr. Moroney: I won't be sworn; I refuse to take
the oath. Mr. Dundon : I appear for the bankrupt,
my lord, and his reasons for refusing to take the oath
are these—He rays that in no real sense of the word
is he a bankrupt; that he had been made a bankrupt
in his capacity of a shopkeeper by reason of a debt
due in his capacity of a tenant-farmer. He says that
the action brought against him in this court is a vile
and infamous attempt to crush him as a tenant-
farmer and a shopkeeper; and therefore it is that he
refuses to be examined and to be sworn. That is
his explanation. There is another matter that, as
his solicitor, I beg to bring before your lordship.
The adjudicition by which be has been made
a bankrupt has been appealed against, and that
appeal is still pending. Of course, my lord, we don't
know what the issue of that appeal may be, but I
have been advised by very eminent counsel that the
appeal will be allowed. Judge Boyd said that was no
justification for not being sworn, This was the first
public sitting anal his adjudication, and according to
the statute, he was there to answer upon oath such
questions as might be put to him by his creditors or
those representing them. Mr, Gerrard, who appeared
for the assignees, pressed to have the bankrupt sworn.
Judge Boyd (to Mr. Moroney) : Take the book, sir.
Mr. Moroney (determinedly) : I refuse to take the
oath. Judge Boyd (to the registrar) : Make out an
order for his committal for contempt of Court. Mr.
Moroney here stood up in the witness-box and flou-
rished the cartoon of United Ireland. Judge Boyd:
Sit down, sir; don't make a braggadocio in this
court. You will have to conduct yourself with pro-
priety. Mr. Moroney: I know how to conduct
myself. Judge Boyd: You must conduct yourself
with propriety in this court. Mr. Moroney resumed
his seat in the witness-box, and taking a copy of this
week's United Ireland out of his pocket proceeded
quietly to read it; in the meantime the Registrar was
making out the committal order. Judge Boyd signed
the commitment order, and it was handed to the
officer of the court, Who immediately placed Mr.
Moroney under arrest. He was conducted to a side
bench in the court while arrangements were being
made for a conveyance to Kilmainbam. After some
rcinutes the officer directed Mr. Moroney to accom-
pany him, and, with the greatest readiness, Mr.
Moroney rose from his seat and moved towards the
door with the officer. Before he left the court he
turned and shouted out, in a loud voice "Hurrah
for the Plan of Campaign !" A crowd had assembled
In the yard, and a car was in readiness. Mr. Moroney
and the officer of the court got up on one side, and
two police-constables on the other. Several friends
rushed sip and shook hands with Mr. Moroney, who
cried out, "Hurrah for the Plan, and hurrah for the
women of Limerick !" The car then drove off to-
wards Kilmainham amidst cries from the crowd of
"Bravo, Limerick." Mr. Dillon M.P., and Mr.
O'Brien got up on another car and drove after Mr.
Moroney. At the Prison Messrs. Dillon and O'Brien
had an interview with the governor, who informed
them that Mr. Moroney would be treated as a first-
class misdemeanant.

At night a number of City bands proceeded to Kil-
mainhatn gaol, and played National airs, in honour
of the bankrupt. Mr. William O'Brien spoke from
an outside car. He said that if all the tenants in
Ireland acted as Moroney had done they would soon
see the green flag floating over Kilmainham, and they
would make short work of the landlords. He promised
them that Maroney was a happier man in his prison
cell than Sir Michael Hicks-Beach on the Treasury
Bench, or Mr. Goschen, who had not a seat to sit on.
While Mr. O'Brien was speaking, a police-sergeant,
who was present with a large force of police, called
upon him to desist, but he paid no attention to the
police officer. Bands afterwards played opposite the
Imperial Hotel, in Sackville-street, and speeches were
delivered by Messrs. Dillon, M.P., Leamy, M.P., Gill,
M.P., and Mr. O'Brien. The crowd sang " God
sal e Ireland" before separating.