The Express.
London, England, 1853-04-11 00:00:00

ATHLONE.

This committee mat for the first time on Baturda,r,
Mr. Bramsten in the chair. The other members were Mr.
Bright, the lion. Mr. Tufa*ll, Sir J. IL Duckworth, and
Mr. Egerton.
Counsel for the petitioner (Mr. Lawee, the unsuccessful
candidate) were Mr. Andrew!, Q.C., and Mr. Montague
Nmith. The sitting member was represented by Mr. Edwin
James, Q.C., Mr. lluddlestone, and Mr. Meagher.
Mr. Andrews, Q.C., opened the case for the petitioners,
who alleged a want of qualification on the part of Mr.
Keogh, and that Mr. Lewes, the other candidate, ought to
lasve been returned. Mr. Keogh had not the qualification
he was bound to have, and on being called upon on the
polling and nomination day to give a declaration of his
qua:ineation under 1 & 2 Vie., did not comply therewith,
and if any declaration of qualification was made, it would
be found that there were such heavy incumbrancea upon
it that it would entirely reduce the clear annual value of
thc qualification required under the act. The polling at
the election took place on the 12th of July. Mr.
Keogh, the Solicitor-General, polled 184 votes, and Mr.
Lewes only a few, probably relying upon the [chance of
Mr. Keogh being unseated on the ground of disqualification.
The second petition, alleging turbulence or disturbance,
had been withdrawn. The learned counsel, at considerable
length, drew the attention of the committee to the Qualifi-
cation Act of Victoria, which provides for a property qua-
lification to entitle a member to a seat in parliament cf the
clear annual value of 3001. Notice of defective qualifica-
Um. was served on Mr. Keogh, who made a declaration of
hio qualification bet rc ju-t,ces of the peace. The hoe.
amber's qualification consisted of property in Mayo and
ela.where, alleged to be of the annual value of 1,0001., be-
ewe t personal qullification in mortgage and lands in which
sperional interest to the extent of 6,1:14.11. The

various registers in Ireland had been searched, bat they
had fa,led to find any entries of the property in question.
The evidence would go so to cut down the rent charges that
they could not go in aid of qualification. Then were,
moreover, 23 outstanding judgment debts against Mr.
Keogh in Ireland, and two en England. and which in the
aggregate, withsut interest, amounted to 10,0001., and for
which there was no satisfaction on the register.
II Mr. Fitsaienou, clerk of the Hewer in Ireland. produced
the various declarations of qualification made by Mr. Keogh
before the justices in Ireland.
Mr. W. Cox, solicitor, of Pinner's Hall. deposed that he
bad searched the register in Ireland, and found that Mr.
Keogh had no interest in the lands or estates mentioned in
his qualification. He produced aHA of judgment debts
against Mr. Keogh, and deposed that there was no satisfac-
tion of them entered on the roll.
__ - - -

Cross-examined by Mr. James—Was attorney for Mr.
Lewes. Ceuld net sty that there judgment debts had horn
satisfied to the extent if 5,0571. Did not know whether
there was an office in Ireland where satisfaction for judg
agents was entered. There was no satisfaction entered in
the majority of eases, and certainly not to the extent of
45,U57f. Unless it appeared on the iud,;ment roll witness
could know nothing about it. Nb itness had obtained
from the registrar of judgments certificates as to all the
judgments and decrees against Keogh, from Vith
of June, 1828, to June, 1852, and wax told by
the clerk that if any of these judgments were satisfied
it would be entered on the roll. Did not know that a seri
large amount of property in Ireland was not registered.
Witness's partner, and not witness himself, caused Mr.
Keogh to be guested under one or the English judgments
as he was coming out of the House of Commons. His part-
ner issued the process, and the sheriffs officer would not
gamuts the writ, because he alleged that Mr. Keogh
being a mertiber of parliament was privileged. The Eng-
lish judgment in question was for 304/., by a Mr. Maste,
one of witness's client.. Did not know that Maule on be-
coming insolvent assigned over this debt. Witness did not
go over to the National Bank of Ireland and ask them to
allow him to enforce the writ against Mr. Keogh for debt,
but took his instructions from the hoard of the bank in
London to enforce its execution. Was not the solicitor to
the bank, but seAng that they were eredimrs of Mr.
Keogh, and being a private friend of Mr. King,
the secretary of the National Bank, witness told them
that Keogh bail given a qualification of land to avoid pay-
ing them their money. It was said, you will have an oppor-
twiny of seeing what these lands are when you go to
inquire about the judgments. Witness received instruc-
tions from the board to do this, and went to Mr. Mahoney,
a solicitor, in Dublin, and asked Mr. Mahoney to issue exe-
cution for judgment against Mr. Keogh, without giving
him notice of it, and that if he did Keogh would get out of
the way, and that he (Mahoney) must take the responsi-
bility. Mr. Mahoney refused to issue execution, and said
Mr. Keogh is now Solicitor-General and if you write to
him, no doubt he wil: pay you. Mahoney said lie did nut
like to do this, because Mr. Keogh had interested himself
in getting him a situation. The money was paid on
the day the letter was written. Upon a careful reading
of the art of parliament relating to the privilege of
members, witness was of opinion that Mr. Keogh,
under the circumstances, was not privileged from arrest,
-eeived instructions thi rim- from the Bank

and roceis-- reupon .
to have Mr. Keogh taken in execution. Fenton, butler to
Mr. Lawn, pointed out Mr. Keogh as he was coming from
the House of Commons. Maisie sa:d his own solicitor had
gone to Australia, and that the matter must be executed by
some one. Witness was afterwards told by the sheriff's
officer that the money was payed and the debt arranged.
One day, when thole was in witness's office, Mr. Lewes
was announced ; but the subject of Mr. Keogh's arrest
IMO not spoken of, but witness was talking tom, Mauls about
dm arrest. Mr. Lewes' however, knew witness was going
is arrest Keogh. A Speaker's warrant was served on
'gosh, by Fenton, in Ireland, to attend before the com-
mittee. Mr. Keogh came over, in conformity with the
warrant, and then he was arrested.
Mr. James then said he should be prepared to show the
committee that upward. of 5,5001. of these judgment debts
had been satisfied, and also that some of these judgments
were penal bonds, and that they were for double the real
amount.
The committee then adjourned to this day.