THE RECORD OFFICE

Northern Advocate, 22 August 1929, Page 3

THE RECORD OFFICE

ALLOCATION OP THE BOUNTY OP THE CROWN.

(By A. HORNET.)

(Continued.) Dr 4Sa.jimel .Johnson, who made jocund remarks about the Scots, said that "the Irish are a fair people; they never speak well of one another.” His ipse dixit contained a strong element of truth, and his inner mind must have forseen the comedy acted in the library of Dublin'Castle in the year of grace, 1905. The whole history of Ireland from, the days of Bryan Born relates to treasons, strategemd ‘ and spoils, deep and violent between the leading families of Erin, the Cindrella of the Atlantic. According to the Brehon law in the past, the "Tanist,” (eldest son) was allowed to inherit property only provisionally, his relations having tile right, if haply possessed of power, to oust him by natural force, 'i'oday there is> another method in man’s wickedness, aftd that method is law. To he left money, ancT then to see it, vanish into thin air, disappear like a comet, after a battle royal in the probate Court, was enough to upset the equilibrium of a saint and an Irishman. On the other hand, it was equally provoking, after taking the trouble to break a will, to have bureaucracy, passing under the name of the Crown, bag’ the money. Perhaps these little pinpricks are sent to try one. Under the rule called Bounty of the Crown, it whs quite in order for the guardians to put in a claim, and they were represented by counsel. This legal light was very pronounced in liis arguments on the law of "escheat.” Unfortunately, just as a scuttle-fish blackens tile waters when disturbed, so counsel in like manner clouded the cake to such ah extent that it was difficult for a layman to say which side gave him the retaining fee. After this solemn dubious 3ounsol had made his appeal, and given diapter .and verse of "escheat,” there arose a stately lady, one in close affiliation with the guaidian claimants, and fr6m her come behnis of light on the money controversy. There is a celebrated picture in the Wertz 'Gallery at Brussels—the sun rising and its rays dispelling the noxious little imps of darkness that piay about at night time. Thus, like a- sun, this lady shed a golden radiance round about her. From the gleam in her eye It was easy to perceive that she was tuned up to concert pitch, and meant to reveal her mind. With a dignity that lid honour to her sox, she took off the gloves” as she meant to speak the truth. With this lady there was no beating about the bush, or getting lost in a maze of legal arguments. She hit straight from the shoulder. She told the Solicitor-General what her grandmother had told her when a girl (a lady and an epitaph can always be believed). She told what the butler saw ahd many oilier weird episodes; in' shdrt she tolled the knoll of the next-of-kin on the father’s side. Before the funds in Chancery were allocated, the Crown was to hear the truth. Grandma told her that the money never came from the father’s side, his family being as poor as church mice. That wicked man, after the death of his first wife, had married a rich widow, on her side of the family, so it was a case of a poor widower marrying a rich widow. (Cries of "shame,” but someone remembered that only a nice man could marry a rich widow). The widow’s .money, after she became his wife, he took and put into Chancery for the benefit of a daughter (by a former supposed wife, and the County of Kildare cut him dead (applause). After Arabella Sarah’s death the money should have come back to her family, hut his next-of-kin having the avariciousness of a wolf, broke the will. As guardians, they had looked after and cared for this dear old lady, who was so grateful for their attention that -she deeideded to remain a Word in Chancery until she went into' her grave, and,, before departing from this Wicked world, willed to them her Chancery money. It now rested, with the Crown to do an act of justice to tho.se who had cared for and loved her (applause). Of course, all this was hearsay evidence, but what did it matter. Everything was admissible in the library of Dublin Castle. Directly this lady had fired her broadside, the leading counsel for the next-of-kin on the father’s side, assisted by the solicitor for the same party, took up the pleading, both pleading together. The family they represented had distinction. Their pedigree, as can be seen from the records, can be traced to two honest Nor,man knights who, after the Conquest, had settled in Ireland. The crest of this family is engraved on the box tombs of the Rock of Cashel, also on the face of the old town hall of Fothard. Having acquired estates they built a moated castle to show that they had Norman blood. As time wont on the descendants of these noble knights, whoso grace adorned their armour, acquired more, and still more estates. Most of this proper! v ; by the wheel of - fortune, was confiscated as they Were on the wrong side during the Desmond rebellion. Nevertheless they did their duty to the State, provided the church with Bishops Priests and Deacons, and as time still went further on, feeling less theologically inclined, took up the profession of arms and fought for England’s fair renown '(loud cheers). As for what grandmother said, believe her hot. Old ladies, (When encouraged, are given to romancing. At this Stage, the Solicitor-

General, who had been listening patiently for about live hours to the claimants, got up and bolted, saying as he wont away that the decision as to the distribution of the funds would bo made at a later date. (Evidently he had had enough of bounty). About a year afterwards the claims wore ruled on. The legal expenses absorbed a large, a very large, portion of the Chancery money. In addition the castle authorities took legacy duty at the rate of £9 per cent, with interest from the year lfso, a small matter of about £SOOO, leaving only £7OOO at the time of the castle inquiry. About half of the £7OOO was given to the father’s next-of-kin, to the number of 40 who all established their claim. The other half of the £7OOO vanished like the crown jewels, and never left a trace. Yet it was a glorious victory—a Pyrrhic victory. Having- said enough about Chancery, the King’s Bench is next on the list. (To be Continued.)