In a courtroom drama reminiscent of a bygone era, the Chancery Division played host to a contentious legal dispute over a Co. Limerick estate. The case, presided over by the Master of the Rolls, unfolded between James Boyle Gibson, a chartered accountant hailing from West George Street, Glasgow, and a cast of defendants including David Graham Conyers, David George Conyers, Thomas E. Lloyd, and Edward F. Conyers.
The origins of the dispute traced back to the late David Chrystal, a figure whose financial dealings with the Conyers family loomed large. Over the span of two decades, Chrystal had extended significant sums of money to the Conyers clan, purportedly in connection with salvage payments related to the inheritance of Castletown Conyers in Co. Limerick. These financial transactions were often secured by mortgages on the property, with David Graham Conyers serving as the tenant for life.
Gibson’s lawsuit sought a declaration affirming his entitlement to a first charge upon the lands, as well as a detailed account of the financial transactions in question. At stake was approximately £5,000, a considerable sum in those times. However, the defendants countered with separate defences, alleging that Chrystal had received substantial sums of money that ought to offset any potential liabilities owed to Gibson.
The crux of the legal argument hinged on Chrystal’s role in the affairs of the Conyers estate. The Master of the Rolls scrutinized Chrystal’s correspondence and financial dealings, ultimately determining that Chrystal did not function as a trustee of the Conyers estate but rather as a banker or private agent. While questions arose regarding the validity of Gibson’s title, the court assumed that Gibson represented the interests of Chrystal and the various defendants.
Despite Gibson’s assertions, the court found the evidence lacking in support of his claims. Contrary to Gibson’s assertions, the estate’s income was deemed sufficient to meet its obligations, with some portions even yielding a surplus. Consequently, the court dismissed Gibson’s primary claims against certain defendants, ordering him to bear the costs incurred by the defendants in defending against his allegations.
However, the legal saga did not conclude there. Gibson pressed on with a secondary claim against David Graham Conyers, specifically regarding a mortgage held by Conyers. In this instance, the court ruled in favour of Gibson, ordering Conyers to provide an account of the sums owed under the mortgage agreement. Notably, the court refrained from awarding costs to either party in this particular aspect of the case, leaving the matter open for further inquiry into potential balances due.
Legal representatives on both sides sparred vigorously throughout the proceedings. Counsel for Gibson, comprising Messrs. L. Brown, K.C.; A. F. Blood, K.C.; and A. K. Overend, argued tirelessly in support of their client’s claims. On the opposing side, counsel for David Graham Conyers, led by Messrs. H. D. Conner, K.C., and Phelps, presented a staunch defence, while Sergeant Sullivan, along with Messrs. Herbert Wilson, K.C., and Robert Holmes, represented David George Conyers and Edward F. Conyers.
Dublin Daily Express – Thursday 18 February 1915
