I could give scores of such instances of wilful destruction of property for the purpose of obtaining a reduction.
Here is one.
A tenant near Blarney, in County Cork, was seen to be ploughing up a valuable water meadow.
When asked by a gentleman why he was injuring his land, he replied without hesitation that he was going to get his rent fixed, and immediately afterwards he should lay it down again as a water meadow.
It is scarcely credible how great was the amount of perjury that this Act brought into the country.
A tenant on a property to which I was agent, whose rent was £6 a year, swore he expended £395 on improvements and all that it was worth afterwards was £4, 10s. He received the implicit credit of the court.
According to the laws of the Roman Catholic Church perjury in a court of justice is a reserved sin for which absolution can only be given by a bishop or by priests specially appointed for that purpose.
One priest applied to the bishop for plenary powers, and said the bishop to him:—
'Are the people so generally bad in your parish?'
'It's the fault of the laws, my lord,' replied the priest.