Page 122 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 1 - 5

Mr. Harbinson: May it please your Lordship, I desire this morning to renew the application I made to your Lordship yesterday morning on behalf of a section of the crew of the “Titanic,” with this modification. My application today, my Lord, is to be appointed by you to represent the third-class passengers, the whole class. We have been in consultation with some of the other gentlemen who have been in communication with the relatives of the deceased, and my solicitor represents the survivors of a great number of Irish passengers, and especially he has personal and direct authority to appear on behalf of two survivors, of two persons, whose evidence, according to the view that has been put before us, is of a very important character. It involves serious issues as between the crew of the “Titanic” and the survivors; and considering the importance of those on whose behalf I ask your Lordship to allow me to appear, considering the number of those whom my solicitors represent, and considering the importance of the class for whom I desire to appear, I ask your Lordship to nominate me on behalf of the third-class passengers. Mr. Farrell, M.P., is the gentleman who raised this question in the House. The Commissioner: Is Mr. Farrell the gentleman who is instructing you? Mr. Harbinson: Yes, my Lord, and his brother is Mr. Farrell, the Member of Parliament who raised this question in the House of Commons. Mr. Farrell, the Member of Parliament, is here. The Commissioner: Is the Mr. Farrell who is instructing you a solicitor? Mr. Harbinson: Yes, my Lord. The Commissioner: Is he a brother of the Mr. Farrell who is in the House of Commons? Mr. Harbinson: That is so, my Lord. The Commissioner: Now, who are the two people that you want to have represented here? Mr. Harbinson: The name is Thomas McCormick, who alleges in his statement - The Commissioner: Never mind what he alleges. What is the other name? Mr. Harbinson: The other name is Bernard McCoy. The Commissioner: And where are they living? Mr. Harbinson: At the present moment in America. The Commissioner: Are they coming over here? Mr. Harbinson: Subject to what your Lordship may say, it was my wish, were I allowed to appear, to apply to your Lordship to have their evidence taken on commission. The Commissioner: I think I am very unlikely to do that. They are in America? Mr. Harbinson: That is so, my Lord. The Commissioner: When did you get instructions to represent them? Mr. Harbinson: I, my Lord, was instructed two days ago, but probably Mr. Farrell can tell you. Mr. J. P. Farrell, M. P: I was a colleague of your Lordship in the House of Commons. The Commissioner: I daresay. When did you get these instructions? Mr. J. P. Farrell: About three weeks ago from the relatives and the friends in my constituency. The Commissioner: I am asking about those two gentlemen in America. From whom did you receive instructions? Mr. J. P. Farrell: From their parents in County Longford, which I represent in the House of Commons. The Commissioner: Very well, that is all right. And you have their letters? Mr. J. P. Farrell: Yes. The Commissioner: Now what are the issues which have been mentioned as being issues between those two gentlemen and the crew? Mr. J. P. Farrell: They are of the very gravest kind. Thomas McCormack alleges that when swimming in the sea he endeavoured to board two boats and was struck on the head and the hands and shoved back into the sea, and endeavoured to be drowned. That is one charge. The Commissioner: That gentleman who did it may be guilty of manslaughter for aught I