Death
REILLY -- April 6, John E. Reilly, late of "Lisburn Standard." Interred in Lisburn Cemetery on Wednesday, 8th inst. AGNES REILLY, LISBURN
Clippings
BREVITIES.
The Lord Bishop held an ordination in the Cathedral, Lisburn, on Tuesday.
The number of dogs licensed in Lisburn is 1,972, as compared with 1,901 last year.
At Dunmurry Petty Sessions on Wednesday, George Allen, of Hillsborough, was sworn in as magistrate for Co. Down.
The Matron of the County Antrim Infirmary acknowledges with thanks papers from Mrs. Silcock, Market Square, and pastry and cakes from Mr. J. B. Campbell, The Island.
The decision of the Lisburn Urban Council, arrived at a special meeting on the the 16th March, to reduce the rates by 1s in the £ was ratified at last Monday's meeting of the Council.
The Musgrave Challenge Cup, presented to the Lisburn Golf Club by Mr. Henry Musgrave, D.L., is at present on view in the window of Mr. Charles K. Lindsay, jeweller, Cross Row, Lisburn.
In connection with the May election for the Masonic Orphan Boys' School, the Belfast Selection Committee recommended subscribers to vote for the following:-- Nos. 1, 3, 4, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21,24.
The special preacher in the Seymour Street Methodist Church on Sunday morning next will be the Rev. John M'Coll, M.A. The occasion of this fraternal interchange is the foreign missionary anniversary service.
Mr. J. Milne Barbour, D.L., was one of the speakers at the monster demonstration held in Hyde Park, London, on Saturday afternoon to protest against the Government's coercion of Ulster. Mr. Barbour's speech will be found on page 6.
The new Orange Hall erected be Brookhill L.O.L. 770 will be opened to-morrow afternoon at 3.30 by Bro. C. C. Craig, M.P. Colonel H. A. Pakenham, the popular commander of the South Antrim Regiment, U.V.F., will occupy the chair.
Yesterday morning Orlands, a fine mansion situated in the parish of Kilroot, was destroyed by fire, and the damage is estimated at about £10,000. It is believed that the fire was the work of suffragettes, as a quantity of literature relating to the votes for women movement was found about the place.
A very successful cinema-concert in aid of the Lisburn Cricket Club was held in the Picture Palace, Railway Street, on Friday evening. Mrs. Dr. Taylor, and Messrs. Vere Porter, Wilson, and Wotherspoon (humorous entertainer) contributed items, while Mr. Bronson screened a special set of pictures for the occasion.
We understand that the 1st (Lisburn) Battalion of the South Antrim Regiment will be present at Antrim on Easter Monday, on the occasion of the presentation of colours to the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the regiment. The colours will be presented by Sir Edward Carson, and it is expected 2,000 men will parade in the regiment, 900 of whom will travel from Lisburn.
A very successful social and smoking concert in connection with the Dunmurry companies of the U.V.F. was held in the Orange Hall on Tuesday -- Mr. E. J. Charley, J.P., presiding. A most enjoyable programme was then submitted, the following taking part -- Messrs. H. Greer, W. Hart, H. Baird, T. Wotherspoon, M. Rainey, Morris St. Clair, R. Robinson, D. Smyley, E. Page, W. Minchell, and W. Hall. Mr. J. Beattie, in announcing the arrangements for the Easter manoeuvres, referred to the good work done by Mr. Pring in connection with the companies, a sentiment which was heartily endorsed by all present.
The grand bazaar and sale of work under the auspices of Derriaghy, L.O.L. 135 to be held on Easter Monday and Easter Tuesday promises to be a big success, thanks to the hard work of the officials in charge. The opening ceremony on Easter Monday will be performed by Mrs. J. S. Reade, Clonmore, Lambeg, and Bro. D. P. Gaussen, M.D., will preside; on the following day, Mrs. H. Grattan Pring, Beech Lawn, Dunmurry, will declare the bazaar open, and Bro. C. C. Craig, M.P., will occupy the chair. As will be seen from advertisement, the attractions are very numerous, and apart altogether from the feeling that you will be supporting a deserving object, two good days' of amusement should be had. The opening ceremony on both days has been fixed for 2-30. The new hall, by the way, is situate within two minutes' walk from Derriaghy Halt.
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DEATH OF MR. JOHN E. REILLY.
Former Proprietor of the "Lisburn Standard."
It is with feelings of very sincere regret we have to record to-day the death of Mr. John E. Reilly, who for about quarter of a century was proprietor of this paper. It is a sad and melancholy task, and one which we would as lief were done by other hands, though he that is gone would prefer, we feel certain, the record to be made by one of his former employees, and done without any extravagance of phrase or language. Whatever else John E. Reilly may have been, he was a simple, straightforward man, a strict but very considerate employer, kind-hearted and sympathetic to a degree; and the news of his death, although not unexpected, was learned of in this office with poignant regret and throughout the community generally with genuine sorrow.
Mr. Reilly had not enjoyed anything like good health for the past two or three years. He had been a man of iron constitution, and it was difficult for him to realise, as he himself put it many a time, that he was not the man he used to be. Unfortunately that conclusion forced itself upon him with greater insistence almost every day, and in April of last year he disposed of the "Lisburn Standard" to the present proprietor and retired to take a well earned rest. His health, however, showed but little improvement, and his periods of illness grew more frequent and longer every time. He still liked to be up and about, though, if he could manage it at all; an three weeks ago to-morrow he called at our offices for the usual chat. We then complimented him on his looks, which were brighter than usual. He confessed, however, that he did not feel at all well, and, taking a look round, he shook hands and in a low, catching voice said he did not think he would ever be back again. It was sad; too sad for words, and somehow or other we could not shake off the feeling that his prophecy would come true. That was the last time Mr. Reilly stood in the "Standard" Office. The next news we received was that he had been removed to the County Antrim Infirmary by his medical adviser and friend Dr. St. George. Practically no hope was held out for his recovery, and the end came peacefully on Monday afternoon. Rev. Mr. Grubb, who was very attentive to him during his illness, was present at the last sad scene.
The late Mr. Reilly, who had attained the ripe old age of seventy-four years, lived practically all his life in Lisburn. He was born, it will be news to a good many, in Carrickmacross, County Louth. He was the son of a master printer, and at one time his father owned small printing offices in both Lisburn and his native place, Carrickmacross. It was early settled that Mr. Reilly should take up his father's line of business, and after gaining a working knowledge of the craft in Lisburn he went, when in his teens, to manage the County Louth office. It was here that he acquired the just noticeable brogue that made his voice so pleasing. Printing in those days was not anything like what it is to-day, and nothing was thought of sending practically grown-up men to learn the business; and after a few years as manager Mr. Reilly, strange as it may sound in these days, went to the "Banner of Ulster" Office, Belfast, to serve his apprenticeship -- seven years at the 'case.' Here he formed a friendship with a fellow-apprentice, a boy called Robert J. Sloan (for years now connected with W. & G. Baird. Ltd., Belfast) -- a friendship that lasted till his death. The two lads were more like brothers, and as time went on each grew more like the other physically as well as in taste and habits, until any: one who did not know the twain would not believe they were anything but brothers. It is interesting to state that the editor of the "Banner of Ulster" paper in those days was the present Mr. Justice Dodd, the eminent King's Bench Division Judge; and the writer well recalls a few years back when, after a two-hours' unsuccessful quest for first hand information regarding the departure of judges from Belfast after the Assizes, that he met Judge Dodd at Carlisle Circus. The Judge proved easily approachable, and invited his interrogator up to his chambers at the County Courthouse to consult with "Brother Wright" (Judge). Nothing was mentioned on the walk up but newspaper work, and the learned Judge gave some interesting reminiscences of his stay in the editorial chair, and laughed heartily as he recounted the doings of the two lads Sloan and Reilly, whom he inquired about and asked to be remembered to with the utmost cordiality.
The late Mr. Reilly himself was a good story-teller, and some of his early reminiscences of coaching experiences were very interesting and well worth placing on permanent record had he the gift of expressing himself on paper; but Mr. Reilly, like many another master printer, could scarcely write a three-line paragraph, and in all his twenty-five years' connection with the "Standard" it is improbable that anything written by himself ever appeared in the paper, certainly not in our memory. He delighted to talk about the '86 riots in Belfast, and recalled with natural pride many thrilling experiences he had acting as a special constable (civilian) during those stirring days. Home Rule was another favourite and while he was inclined towards Liberalism in his earlier days, he was utterly opposed to Home Rule in any shape or form, and had a profound contempt for the present Government. It was his wish to see before he died the present Bill settled and settled by consent, if possible; but such a settlement he held must be brought about without loss of honour or dignity to Ulster. Unfortunately that hope was not gratified, but all this is digression.
The late Mr. Reilly was a Methodist, and was a staunch supporter of Seymour Street Church, and for a considerable period was a steward on the Lisburn Circuit. He was also connected with the Masonic Institution, and in his time there was no more generous subscriber to the different charities. He was P.M., P.K., and also a Knight Templar. Mr. Reilly's wife predeceased him by a number of years. Her death was a great blow to him, and he was never the same man afterwards. The only relative he had in this country was an only surviving daughter, who lived with him, and with whom deep sympathy is felt in her irreparable bereavement.
The funeral took place from his late residence on Wednesday for interment in the Lisburn Cemetery. The solid oak coffin in which the remains were encased bore the following simple inscription:--
John E. Reilly.
Died April 6th, 1914.
The funeral, while not a particularly large or imposing one, was composed chiefly of the older inhabitants, clergy of all denominations, professional and business men being present. Prior to the funeral a short service was conducted in the house by the Rev. James Grubb, and the same clergyman conducted the burial service, with the assistance of the Rev. Mr. Spence, of Magheragall. The chief mourners were Mr. Robert J. Sloan (Belfast), and the "Lisburn Standard," who sent a wreath "with affectionate remembrance."
The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. Wm. Ramsey & Co. in a very satisfactory manner.
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BELFAST BANKRUPTCY COURT.
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In Re Ham and Hobson.
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Important Question of Partnership.
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In the Belfast Bankruptcy Court on Monday -- before his Honour Judge Craig-- the case of N. J. Hobson, who had been in business as a baker, came up on an adjourned motion to vary the ruling of the Registrar (Mr. T. C. Houston, LL.B), who had found that the assignees of T. H. Ham were entitled to prove in competition with the ordinary creditors for the sum of £1,173 10s, on the ground that a partnership did not exist between Ham and his son-in-law Hobson.
Mr. H. M. Thompson (instructed by Mr. A. J. Lewis) appeared for the assignees of Ham, and Mr. J. A. Pringle (instructed by Mr. N. Tughan) appeared for the assignees of Hobson.
After evidence,
His Honour, in giving his decision, said it was always a difficult thing for him to differ from the registrar, who had a larger experience in bankruptcy matters than he had and because he entertained the greatest respect for Mr. Houston's opinion and sound judgement in the matters which came before him. In that particular case, however, he was really not dealing with the same evidence that was given before the registrar. He was dealing with evidence largely supplemented in most important particulars. In substance really he was not hearing an appeal, but hearing a fresh trial of a matter with an enormous mass of additional evidence. He entire,ly concurred with one thing which Mr. Thompson had said with regard to the two men Hobson and Ham -- namely, that there was nothing, to choose between them except that Ham had brought himself within the criminal law and had been dealt with accordingly. Except in that particular he did not attach any more credence to one than he did to the other, except in so far as one of them might be corroborated by oral or written evidence, or by the probabilities of the case. He never heard of a firm of solicitors -- two gentlemen undoubtedly of ability and experience in business -- preparing a trust deed on the basis that two persons who were both clients of theirs were partners in business, going on to the last minute apparently on that basis, and then holding a consultation together in their own office, without reference to either client, and coming to a conclusion that everything they he done in the case on behalf of these clients up to that moment had been done on a wrong basis, and that they themselves, without reference to clients, were going to put it on a right basis. Perhaps his (the Judge's) experience of life was limited, though he did not think it was, but in the whole course of it he never heard of such a transaction, and he hoped never to hear of another like it again. So far as Mr. Galway was concerned, the case was much stronger in a way. The extraordinary character of his conduct was much more marked, because he was a solicitor at the time of the agreement for the lease of these premises in which the alleged partnership business was carried on. He was the solicitor who was acting in the taking out of the lease, and it was to him at the time the lease was being prepared that the statement was made by Mr. Beattie, who was acting for the lessee, that Ham was partner, and Mr. Galway took it upon himself to say that that was an untrue story -- that was in August, 1912 -- when they came to January of the following year they found him giving full credence to and entering in the journal of his firm the statement of Hobson that Ham and Hobson were partners. Having in August made up his mind that they were not and that it was a concocted story to say that they were, yet when the statement was made by Hobson in the January following in the presence of the two sons of the alleged partner it was accepted at once. And not only accepted, but the whole of the subsequent interviews down at all events to the 13th January -- he thought there five or six of them -- went upon that basis. One result of them was that the draft deed of arrangement which fixed the partnership liability upon Ham was prepared in the office of these two solicitors. He (his Honour) could not understand that at all. He was only a plain man, and
TWO AND TWO MADE FOUR FOR HIM.
That draft agreement was, to his mind, one of the most striking corroborations of the evidence of Hobson. And it was most extraordinary that while Mr. Galway had the knowledge that the alleged partnership was a concoction in August, 1912, and was accepting the statement in January, 1913, that it was not a concoction, but a true and certain fact on the basis of which the deed was to be made out, and while he was consulting Ham in jail at that very period in reference to the matter that had landed him there he never once said to Ham, "Are you a partner of Hobson or are you not?" That was one of those things he (his Honour) could not understand, and he did not see how anybody could understand it. Such a course of conduct for an intelligent man and a lawyer to pursue. He arrived at the conclusion on a statement of Hobson that Ham was a partner, and a few days later, on some idea of his on mind and Mr. Boas's mind, he arrived at the conclusion that Ham was not a partner, and in the interval between the two periods he never consulted Ham as to whether he was a partner or not. It was not business. He did not close the evidence in that case until the last minute, and Mr. Thompson availed himself of that opportunity to put Ham in the box again and examine him about the draft deed. He admitted, whatever else he denied or qualified, a knowledge that this deed was in contemplation and was brought to him by Hobson, and so far as Hobson's statement was corroborated by Ham. Then that astute man T. H. Ham, who had been practising fraud upon his employers, the Ulster Spinning Company, for a period of years -- a system of fraud that must have been most cunningly devised, involving the embezzlement of £27,000 -- asked the court to believe him on his oath when he said a number of contradictory things about what occurred when Hobson came to consult him with reference to the deed of arrangement and that he did not know what it was. He said he never asked what it was; he thought it was some arrangement between Hobson and his creditors, and that he was lending his name not as a partner, not as a person guaranteeing the debts, but to facilitate Hobson somehow. The point of the thing was that this deed of arrangement was brought to his knowledge in jail, and that he assented to it without asking anything about it. He (his Honour) did not believe that. Then there was a second written document -- the breadserver's agreement. It stated on the face of it that it was an agreement made the (blank) day of (blank) between Nathaniel J. Hobson, of 222 Shankill Road, and Thomas H. Ham, of 2 Claremont Park, Knock Road, trading as N. J. Hobson & Co. Was he to suppose that Ham, to whose knowledge that document was brought, and who admitted he might have signed one of the agreements, signed it without reading it? And if he read it, it contained a plain stement which, signed by him, would amount to the completest admission; and if not signed, if acquiesced in by him, would amount to the completest admission that he was
A PARTNER IN THIS CONCERN.
Of course, his explanation was that he was lending his name to put the fear of God into the breadservers. There were some people who believed anything. He (his Honour) did not pretend to believe things which in his judgment were unbelievable. He had to discharge a duty. It was the duty of the Court to the community in which the Court held its sittings, when it came to the conclusion that people were lying and fraudulent, that it should denounce conduct, character, and evidence of such a description as he had in that case. What was the meaning of all this business as between Ham and Hobson? Hobson tried to represent at one time that the money that was coming to him was his wife's money. He had not had a particle of evidence offered to him by either side as to whether there ever was an aunt, or whether there was an aunt who had money. All that talk about money coming from Bessie's aunt was moonshine, and the object of stating it, in his opinion, was this: that Hobson knew then as well as they knew now, or suspected as well as they knew now, that that money was coming from his father-in-law and from a dishonest source. Therefore, in order to put a face on his own conduct in taking it, he wanted to represent that it came from an aunt of Bessie's. He was contradicted in that by all the evidence. The money that was that was coming to Bessie, if there was any money coming to her at all, was money that never came to her during the lifetime of her father, because he -- according to the story told, and which he (his Honour) had received with several grains of salt -- was under a written promise to keep the money for his life and then to distribute it to his children. It was not a desirable thing for Ham to have known have known that he was a partner in this concern. Questions might be asked as to where he got the money from. That was the reason why Ham's name was never introduced openly into the partnership business of Hobson & Co. That he was in essence a partner he (his Honour) had no doubt. There was no law in the case. It was a question of pure fact for any man of common sense and common honesty to dispose of. The story told by Ham was one that a jury would attach very little importance to, and he as a juror found that there was a partnership between Ham and Hobson, and he reversed the decision of the Registrar.
Mr. Galway -- May I make a personal explanation?
His Honour -- No, sir you may not.
Mr. Galway -- Some mistakes have been made in the statement which I would like to correct and you refuse to hear me.
IN RE THOMAS HENRY HAM.
This matter was listed for adjourned second public sitting.
Mr. H. M. Thompson (instructed by Mr. A. J. Lewis) appeared for the as- B. Galway (Galway & M'Ilwaine) for Mr. T. W. Marshall.
The bankrupt, examined, denied that he was a partner in the White Star Laundry. He advanced about £840 to Mr. Marshall, who was the owner of that concern up till 1909, when witness's son Horatio got an interest. The cheque produced to pay Mr. Hugh Clawson £23 10s 5d, dated 26th September, 1907, and drawn on the Ulster Bank, appeared to have been signed by witness on behalf of the White Star Laundry, but that must have been done when Marshall was away. He believed both of them could sign cheques, but witness was positive he was not a partner in the laundry. The Devonshire Hemstitching Company took over the business of the White Star Laundry, and witness was £500, he balance of £340 being written of. He had never lent any money to the Devonshire Company.
T. W. Marshall said he was now carrying on business in Armagh as "The Armagh Steam Laundry." He was the proprietor of the White Star Laundry until 1909. T. H. Ham was never a partner, and had no authority to sign cheques, but he went security in the Ulster Bank for an overdraft of £50. At the time of the formation of the Devonshire Company no solicitor was employed, but there was an accountant. Witness was for some time a partner in the Devonshire Company, and when he went out he got a sum of £50.
The sitting was adjourned for a fortnight.
IN RE JOHN M'SHANE.
The bankrupt was a spirit-grocer at 150 Falls Road, and 34 Springfield Road, and the matter cae up for audit and composition lodged.
Mr. P. J. Magee read the report, which showed a balance in hands of £52 10s 7d. The debts amounted to £1,037 9s 11d.
The audit was passed.
IN RE HUGH HAMILTON.
The bankrupt was a grocer in Portadown, and the matter came up for adjourned first and second public sittings.
Mr. H. M. Thompson (instructed by Mr. Ross) appeared for the assignees, and Mr. James Alexander for the bankrupt.
Mr. Thompson said he had no further evidence to offer.
His Honour said he supposed the only question was whether he was to keep the bankrupt longer in jail or not. He had read the papers in connection with the case, and he did not think Hamilton had told the whole truth yet. There were two sums of money which he had represented as having been paid out of the last money he had received and which were not in fact so paid. To that extent he was still in contempt, but the amounts were small, being together something like £15. The object of the original committal had been obtained by the disclosures which the bankrupt had made since that time, and he (his Honour) did not think he ought to keep him longer in jail on that contempt order, and he therefore directed his discharge.
The bankrupt, who has been about six weeks in jail, was then released from custody.
IN RE FERGUS PARKER LINDSAY.
The bankrupt was a publican and farmer at Crossgar, and the matter came up for the examination of witnesses.
Mr. H. M. Thompson (instructed by Shean & Dickson) appeared for the assignees, and briefly examined the bankrupt regarding his trading, and, on the application of Mr. Thompson, an order was made for the sale of the stock-in-trade.
IN RE JAMES HANNA.
The bankrupt was a grocer on the Shankill Road, and the matter came up for the examination of witnesses.
Mr. Ross appeared for the assignees, and Mr. Alexander for the bankrupt.
The bankrupt was briefly examined in regard to the furniture which was claimed by Mrs. Hanna. He stated that he had purchased the furniture out of money which she had before her marriage.
Mrs. Hanna was examined as to the moneys which she had at the time of her marriage in 1903, and as to where she had purchased the furniture.
No order was asked for.
ARRANGEMENT MATTERS.
There were three arrangement matters, in which the solicitors engaged were Messrs. James Alexander, J. O. Taylor, and Samuel Ross.