The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-15 00:00:00

CHABGA OF CORRUPTION AGAINST

IRISH MEMBERS.

This committee re-assembled yesterday at 12 o'clock.
The proceedings commenced by the re-examination o'
Mr. Napier, the late Attorney-General for Ireland, who
appeared in the witness-box at his own request to amplify
and correct the explanations he had given to Mr. Keogh
on Saturday, as to certain Irish legal appointraeata
made during Lord Derby's Government.
By Mr. Butt—Mixing in society and hearing such a
thing generally talked of; he had contracted a general
impression, upon which impression he had founded a
belief, that the selling of places for money by me sabers
of Parliament was a reality, and not a mere rumour.
That impression resolved itself into an accusation against
not more than three or four members.

Mr. Butt—ls there a general impression that such a
thing is done by members of the present Parliament ?
Mr. Napier—Well, if I were to answer that question,
it would bring me to the case of individuals, and I care-
fully abstain from allowing general reports to attach
themselves in my own mind to any individuals.
Mr. Moore—Are you under an impression that the
report you heard is necessarily confined to men who are
not members of the present Parliament ?
Mr. Napier—No, I do not think it is so confined, either
to those who are, or to those who are not.
Mr. R. D. Kane, solicitor, at Dublin, then again ap-
peared in the witness-box. He said he had stated on a for-
mer day his impression that the loan of 400/. from Mr.
Howley to Mr. Somers had been arranged by those two
gentlemen in the country. He would not now say so,
for he could find no communication from either of them
on the subject. At the same time it appeared to him
that he had nothing to do with the original negotiation
of the loan, for the first communication) he received on
the subject was a note written by Mr. O'Hara, as Mr.
Somers' solicitor, to witness, as Mr. Hovrley's, along
with a statement of Mr. Somers' title. Witness had
frequently been instructed by Mr. Howley to proceed
against Mr. Custis, but never against Mr. Somers. That,
however, was explained by the circumstance that a re-
ceiver was placed over Mr. Somers' property.
M. T. Arkins said, that he held the office of Sword-
bearer to the Corporation of Dublin. In the year 1849
that corporation was reconstituted by a bill which also
transferred to it the duties of various boards, the officers
of which ceased to exist. To many of these officers
compensation was provided by the bill ; but to smiths,
weighmasters, and others, nothing was proposed to be
given. However, Mr. Reynolds, one of the city mem-
bers, by great exertions
i in the House of Commons, pro-
cured for them admission into the compensation clause
as well as the others. Witness then conceived the idea
of making the member a present in return for his ser-
vices, and he went round among the officers interested
and requested them to subscribe 19 per cent, on the first
year's compensating salary. By this means he raised
between 200/. and 3001., and presented it to Mr. Rey-
nolds.

Lord Barrington—Did he take it 1
Witness--He did, he did, sir. Witness had often
collected money for Mr. Reynolds. About the period
of the Dublin Election Committee, which sat for 7$
days, he was engaged in collecting money for him for
between three and four years.
Mr. James Walker, solicitor, said, he resided some-
times in Sligo, and sometimes in Dublin. As to the
matter under the consideration of the committee he
knew nothing of his own knowledge ; he knew nothing
in particular.
Mr. Bright—Do you say that before Dr. Gray's speech
at Tuam you never heard of any person in the town of
Sligo having given money to members of Parliament or
other persons as compensation for obtaining any situation
in any department ?
_

Wanes; could distinctly say he never heard of such a
thing. He had heard that Mr. Somers had obtained a
great many situations. He was said to have a great
deal of influence with Sir William Somerville, Lords
, Clarendon and Palmerston, and Messrs. Tnfnell and
Hayter ; but witness never heard it said that he received
money for his appointments. Witness's father formerly
supported Mr. Somers at Sligo. He supported him in
1847, but that was the last occasion. In 1852 he sup-
ported Mr. Towneley, and in 1853 Mr. Sadleir. Several
Government appointments had been received by members
of witness's family. In 1839 one of his brothers received
an appointment in the London Customs through the in-
fluence of Mr. Somers. In 1849 another brother re-
ceived a Mayo cadetship in the Irish constabulary, worth,
perhaps, 1301. A third brother had subsequently been
appointed clerk of the Customs at Westport. Both
these appointments were obtained through Mr. Dillon
Brown, member for Mayo. Lastly, a few months ago,
a fourth brother received a landing-waitership at Sligo.
from Mr. Sadleir, at that time a Lord of the Treasury.
Mr. Charles O'Hara said, that he was an attorney at
Westport, in Mayo. He was well acquainted with Mr.
James Fair, and had some conversations with him about
the situaton of poor-law guardian, when he was a candi-
date for it. Witness mentioned to him the names of
Dr. Gray and Mr. Graham, solicitor, as persons likely
to be able to give him advice and assistance. Mr. Fair
suggested to witness that if he could obtain the appoint-
ment by means of a,sum of money, he would not hesi-
tate at making a sacrifice in that way ; but no sum was
ever specified. Witness was serving his apprenticeship
at the time ; he was aware of the danger of mixing one-
self up in such a business, and so he kept clear of it.
He happened to be present at a conversation between
Mr. Fair and Mr. Graham, and not a word then passed
about money. Witness's impression was that the money
was to be given, not merely to members of Parliament,
but to any person whatever who would procure the ap-
pointment.
Mr. Charles Peyton Graham, solicitor at Dublin, said
that he knew Mr. Charles O'Hara, but had never had
more than ten words or so with Mr. Fair. He did not
recollect the conversation with him of which Messrs.
O'Hara and Fair had spoken ; but certainly, at all events,
nothing ever passed between him and them about money
for the situation Mr. Fair was looking for. In short,
he knew nothing whatever of the matter with which his
name had been connected. Witness was Mr. Somers'
solicitor, and had conducted several elections for him.
He had now a bill of 1,0001. at least against him. Mr.
Somers had given him two Government appointments
for his relatives.

Dr. Gray then gave some explanations as to differences
of recollection that had appeared between him and other
witnesses.—He will appear again before the committee
on Thursday, at 12, to which date the proceedings have
been adjourned.