Descriptive List - University College Cork Library

875 19 Feb 1869
Petition of Thomas Kennedy Lowry, Ballytrim House, Killeleagh (District
Judge of Jamaica, and a Counsel in Ireland) to the Commons of Great Britain ,
containing transcripts of official correspondence supporting his claim that on
the 6 March 1867, he was appointed as a District Justice of Jamaica which
position he was subsequently unjustly denied. After clarifying with the
Colonial Office that he was appointed as a D.J. and not a Stipendary
Magistrate, he received a £200 advance on his salary of £800 and embarked
for Jamaica. On arrival he was informed by the Governor that the Bills
necessary to establish and provide for the District Courts had not been passed
and he was forced to undertake as a temporary measure the duties of a
magistrate in the parishes of St. Ann’s and St. Mary’s where he encountered
serious corruption and abuses involving the Deputy Magistrate’s clerk. This
individual, Lowry alleges, began a smear campaign against him and falsified
several official documents in an effort to discredit him, and so prevented him
from carrying out his duties. The smear campaign was he asserts aided by
local newspapers “belonging to & conducted by a low class of Jews which are
the organs of & supported by the criminal classes in Jamacia who are a most
numerous & powerful party”. Lowry was removed from his post by the
Governor who stated his language and behaviour while a magistrate was
intemperate. Consequently Lowery left Jamaica on the 24 July. Subsequent
correspondence with the Colonial Office revealed no official warrant for his
appointment was ever issued, the official who issued his warrant having no
right to do so until the relevant Bills had been passed. Lowry now petitions
the Commons to investigate the matter.
876 [ ]
11 skins
File of miscellaneous documents including copy of correspondence between
Lord Castlereagh and Mr. George Canning in which the former demands
‘satisfaction’ of the latter (Sept 1809). Also details of French china marks.
Note on file cover refers to 1640 document detailing lands and occupiers in
the Parish of Inchiofogarty (see /304).
224
8 items