WHYTE'S THE ECLECTIC COLLECTOR 15/16 MAY 2021

77 THE ECLECTIC COLLECTOR - TIMED ON-LINE AUCTION 1 MAY - 15/16 MAY 2021 War of Indepenence 172 1920 (1 March) Summons to Hibernian Bank managers to hand up records of bank accounts of Sinn Féin and other organisations. A 2-page typewritten summons to appear at a Preliminary Inquiry in the Police Court, The King v. Persons unknown. “Whereas it has been sworn... that on the said 31st day of October some persons did unlawfully receive certain unlawful contributions for certain unlawful associations.” Signed Alan Bell, the summoned Hibernian Bank managers listed with the addresses of their branches. Condition: Heavy fold, couple of edge tears, very good. Provenance: Served on Thomas F. Read, one of the five named Hibernian Bank managers; Thence by descent: Whyte’s, 13 March, 2016, lot 363; Whence purchased by the present owner. In their search for Dáil ÉIireann monies in Dublin banks, Dublin Castle recruited Resident Magistrate Alan Bell, from Banagher, who had previous success in locating Land League funds in Irish banks. By the date of this summons he had successfully confiscated over £71,000 . The preliminary enquiry he instigated in the Police Court was to be the first step in seizing the proceeds of bond issued by Michael Collins as Minister for Finance of the Dáil. The proceedings, which were held in camera, came to nothing as the bankers refused to reveal account details. On 26 March 1920, three weeks after he signed this summons, while travelling by tram to Dublin from his home in Monkstown, Bell, who was armed with a revolver, was dragged from the tram at Sandymount Avenue and shot dead. A 2-page typewritten summons to appear at a Preliminary Inquiry in the Police Court, The King v. Persons unknown. Whereas it has been sworn... that on the said 31st day of October some persons did unlawfully receive certain unlawful contributions for certain unlawful associations.” Signed Alan Bell, the summoned Hibernian Bank managers listed with the addresses of their branches.” Estimate €300-€500 (approx £260-£430) Click here for more images and to bid on this lot 172