“What are the facts?” I asked.  “Mr. Balfour speaks from report and belief, Mr. Redmond asserts that he speaks from actual observation.”

“The facts,” said Colonel Turner quietly, “are that Mr. Balfour’s statement is accurate, and that Mr. Redmond, speaking from actual observation, asserts the thing that is not.”

“Where is this old woman?” I asked.  “Would it be possible for me to see her?”

“Certainly; she is at no great distance, and I will with pleasure send a car with an officer to bring her here this afternoon!”

“Meanwhile, how came the old woman into Court? and what is her connection with the cases of boycotting last week tried?”

“Those cases arose out of her case,” said Colonel Turner; “the publicans last week arraigned, ‘boycotted’ a fortnight ago the police and soldiers who were called in to keep the peace during the trial of the dealers who ‘boycotted’ her.

“Her case was first publicly made known by a letter which appeared in the Dublin Express on the 28th of January.  That day a line was sent to me from Dublin ordering an inquiry into it.  I endorsed upon the order, ‘Please report.  I imagine this is greatly exaggerated.’  This was on January 30th.  The next day, January 31st, I received a full report from Milltown Malbay.  Here it is,”—­taking a document from a portfolio and handing it to me—­“and you may make what use you like of it.”

It is worth giving at length:—­

“James Connell, ex-soldier, and his mother, Hannah Connell, of Fintamore, in this sub-district are boycotted, and have been since July last.  James Connell held a farm and a garden from one Michael Carroll, a farmer, who was evicted from his holding for non-payment of three years’ rent, July 14, 1886.  After the period of redemption, six months, had passed, the agent made Connell a tenant for his house and garden, giving him in addition about half an acre (Irish) of the evicted farm which adjoins his house.  In consequence Connell was regarded by the National League here as a ‘land-grabber.’  About the same time the agent also appointed him a rent-warner.

“On the 22d June last Connell received a letter through the Post-Office threatening him if he did not give up his place as a rent-warner.  I have no doubt the letter was written by (here a resident was named).  On the 10th, and again on the 17th, of July, Connell was brought before indoor meetings of the National League here for having taken the half acre of land, when he through fear declared he had not done it.

“At the first meeting the Rev. J.S.  White, P.P., suggested that in order to test whether Connell had taken the land, Carroll, the evicted tenant, should go and cut the meadowing on it, which he did, when Connell interfered and prevented him.  At the next meeting Carroll brought this under notice, and Connell was thereupon boycotted.  Immediately afterwards the men