1 J.G.
For report please
M.N. 2/3 Dear Mr.Devlin, With feelings of regret I am compelled to
write you in connection with a matter that occurred here
recently— where Constable Nicholas Rainsford of Leopold Street
Barracks was charged with:- (1) Entering the house of Miss Flos-
sie Gillian, Geoffrey St, on the night of the 29th December
last, at 8.30p.m., shook hands with her and said, I came to
arrest you. She was supposed to resent his action and said
her uncle was coming and that the Const. then left. (2) That
he called back the next night at 11 30p m, and knocked at the
door. That she tapped the wall of the house next door which is
occupied by an ex-soldier named Donnelly. Donnelly was
supposed to have come out to the Const. and charged him with
being knocking at Miss Gillan's door at the same time & the
latter came on the scene and fainted. The Const. was reported,
a sworn inquiry held. Miss Gillan & Donnelly swore what I
have above stated & which is absolutely false. On the first
night he had six of the most respectable men on the Crumlin
Road to prove that he had been in their company from 7 15 p m,
to 10 p m. Also Father Ignatius was speaking to him on the
night in question in Ardoyne Hall and Const. McDonagh out of
the same Barracks was with him the whole time; consequently,
you can see for yourself that the charges were false and ground-
less beyond dispute. When he had such good evidence to sup-
port his innocence he was acquitted of the first night's
proceedings, but having no evidence to prove his innocence
on the second occasion, as he was on night duty, on this street,
he was found guilt of the second charge, (on the evidence of
the two who had previously sworn falsely against him) — got an
unfavourable record and transferred to Co. Kildare at his own
expense. He is to be leaving here on the 24th instant. Well Dear Mr. Devlin, I must now tell you that this
business was solely concocted against Rainsford by the 2 Protestant R.I.C. men of Leopold Street for the simple reason
that they know he devotes the greater part of his time to the
several meetings and committees held at Ardoyne. They have
boasted on several occasions that he would get the kick out
of Belfast, and now they have done it... I shall be forever
grateful if you will assert your influence - get the unfavour-
able record wiped out and the transfer cancelled. Try if
possible to get the transfer cancelled, and let those Orangemen
see that we are yet possessed of some influence. Immediate action is necessary as he is going on the 24th
instant.