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Newspaper/Court Extracts

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Re: Newspaper/Court Extracts

PostMon Jul 14, 2014 11:55 am

JULY 1837

July 1837 The annual meeting of the Belfast Institution was held. A meeting was also held by the Belfast Committee for the Relief of the Distressed Poor. At this it was ascertained that upward of £460 had been expended leaving a balance of only £149. Because the sum is inadequate the poor of the town will be left in the extremist destitution.
It was reported that the first tea party of the Belfast Total Abstinence Society was held in the Lancastrian School in Frederick Street. It has also been reported that a dreadful robbery occurred at the brewery in Smithfield and a sum of money taken.
The Belfast Quarter Sessions the following sentences were imposed. Miles Conway, stealing ham, 12 months in the House of Correction. Bridget Loughrey, stealing two gowns, transported 7 years. John Cassidy and Charles Stewart, stealing a chemise, 12 months in jail and whipped three times. Thomas Ryan, stealing stockings, transported 7 years. Francis Harvey, stealing two grates, transported 7 years. George Warnock, assaulting a day constable, transported 7 years. This a the cripple who appears 65 times in the Black Book.
Ellen Brown and Ann Stitt, stealing a shawl, transported 7 years. George McCormick, Henry Green, John Cornwell and Eliza McKee, stealing from the dwelling house of John Rutherford in Donegall Pass one slice of bacon, transportation 14 years. Ann Murphy, stealing a shawl, transported 7 years. John Molony, stealing a handkerchief, transported 7 years.
At the County Antrim Assizes held in Carrickfergus a man from the town of Belfast named Little was returned to the Spring Assizes for the murder of his wife.
It has been reported that a boy aged fourteen years was drowned while bathing near the new bridge at Ballymacarrett.
At the Assizes the following sentences were imposed. John McAlister and John Ward, burglary, death John McClean, highway robbery, death Russell Abbott and Alexander Park, highway robbery, death James McCloskey, larceny, transported 7 years James Granny, larceny, transported 7 years John Moore, cow stealing, transported for life Edward Murphy, sheep stealing, transported for life John Downey, stealing a bullock, transported for life James McVeigh, stealing a cow, transported for life
Mr Gallaher arrived in Belfast for a number of performances on ventriloquism
A riot occurred on Donegall Quay when the steamer Rapid was about to sail to Glasgow with a load of potatoes. People of the poorer classes attacked the ship and dispersed on the arrival of the police.
A fire destroyed McRiley’s Veterinary Establishment in Chichester Street.
The body of James Bruce of Brown Square was found hanging from a tree at the Blackstaff.
August 1837 After the recent Belfast election it was reported in the London Standard that there occurred ‘dreadful rioting in Belfast.’ With the exception of a few minor skirmishes the election had mainly passed of peacefully.
Workmen fixing a roof in Caddell Entry left a ladder unsecured with the result being it knocked over by a dray. It struck a young man named McCann and when he was taken up he was not quite dead but so dreadfully injured that he expired while being conveyed to the hospital.
A man was found walking in a state of nudity at Forest Hill with several wounds to his person. He stated that his name is James Gibbon and that he was attacked. However, the surgeon who attended him, the master of the Poorhouse and the police have every reason to believe he attempted to commit suicide.
The Belfast Harvest Fair was held. A great number of horses were exhibited but the majority of them were of an inferior description.
It has been reported that extensive and daring robberies have been perpetrated in town with the following houses having been broken into. Professor Cairns, College Square Mr Arthur Hamill, Falls Road Mr William Gray, Wellington Place Dr McCluney, Chichester Street Through the active exertions of some of the constables nine fellows of infamous character have been apprehended.
It has been reported that two women, mother and daughter, residing in one of the courts off North Street, were burned in a manner so shocking by their bed taking fire. The latter died almost immediately after the calamity and the other lies in the Frederick Street hospital without any hope of recovery. Two boys from Hercules Street were attacked by a group of blackguards while driving sheep through Ballymacarrett. One fled and the other was severely beaten.
Work has finished on the new Seaman’s Chapel in Pilot Street which was erected by the committee of the Bethel Union.
A new Wesleyan Chapel was opened in Frederick Street.
September 1837 It has been reported that three body snatchers have taken up residence in the town from Scotland. The public have been informed to watch over graves as the three are now engaged in that profession. They have taken up residence around May’s Market.
William Hanna, a coal trimmer on board the steamer Rapid, was discovered sitting on the coals near the boiler quite dead. When last seen he was in a state of intoxication.
October 1837 The corpse of a man named Sturgeon, a weaver belonging to Ballymacarrett, was discovered in the River Blackstaff below the Cromac Bridge.
A meeting was held at 7 o’clock of the subscribers of the Ulster Female Penitentiary at the Rev Morgan’s Meeting House in Fisherwick Place.
A fire destroyed the premises of Mr Jones, a baker, grocer and spirit dealer, in Millfield.
A malicious and wanton outrage occurred in the Botanic Gardens when one or several ruffians, not yet discovered, cut and carried off a number of rare and valuable trees. This unprovoked depredation may be considered an outrage on the public of the town.
A meeting was held in the board room of the Poor House by the Belfast Charitable Society. The discussion was on obtaining a further water supply for the benefit of the towns inhabitants.
Mr John Campbell, a respectable tallow-chandler in John Street, met a sudden and most excruciating death. His soap boiling works are immediately in the rear of his shop and dwelling house. His children noticed that one of the large soap pans was boiling over and searched for their father but soon discovered that, to their surprise, he could not be found. Search was immediately made and the first person who looked into the large vessel of boiling liquid discovered his body almost boiled to a jelly. Mr Campbell has left a widow and seven children to mourn his premature and horrible death.
The Belfast Theatre opened for the winter season. November 1837

unitedblogs

Re: Newspaper/Court Extracts

PostMon Jul 14, 2014 7:05 pm

BELFAST 1850

March 1850 The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals erected a new through for cattle at the Ulster railway. This brings to five the number they have placed throughout the town.
At the Antrim Assizes John Dunwoody and samuel Bleakely were released after their victim, Alexander Gault withdrew his complaint.
A man named Thomas Flannigan was transported for ten years after being found guilty of assaulting a man and robbing him of his purse.
A fire broke out in the rope factory of Mr Lemon in Ballymacarrett. The building was completely destroyed and the brigade prevented it from spreading to other buildings.
It has been reported in the Belfast newspapers that a man named John Woolsey, of Clonagh House near Portadown, has been murdered. There had been a long running quarrel between him and his brother over their late father’s property. The brother was arrested.
The annual meeting of the committee of the Belfast Industrial School was held in the school buildings, frederick Street.
April 1850 Night Constable John Darragh, stationed at Queens Quay, heard a splash and faint cry on the opposite side at Donegall Quay. He rushed over but could see no sigh of anyone. Fearing that someone had fallen into the river he obtained a grapnel from some quay workers and after searching for two hours recovered the body of an unknown man. An inquest was held and the jury returned a verdict of ‘found drowned.’
A woman named Susanna Logan was discovered lying dead in her small house in Little York Street. An inquest jury returned a verdict of ‘died from excessive drinking.’
It has been reported in the Belfast newspapers that a man named Gillespie, a servant in the army, went into an Orange Lodge meeting in Ballymoney. He said in
joke that he was a Papist, which he was not, and was therefore kicked to death.
It has been reported in the Belfast newspapers that the well known lady Madame Tussaud has died.
A serious fire broke out in the Belfast Distillery. Fortunately the blaze was brought under control before the arrival of the brigade by the works own engine. The brigade were held up for ten minutes as the water plug had been covered by wooden paving.
At the Belfast Police Court Mr Heffernon of the National Theatre and Mr Hustleby of the Hibernian Theatre, Smithfield, were both fined for ‘keeping and using certain buildings for stage playing’ without licence.
At the Belfast Police Court a young lad named James Carson was fined for selling turf in Ballymacarrett. He had been summoned by the market inspector. A man named William Armstrong was sent to the House of Correction for the ill treatment of a horse.
The 39th Regiment arrived in Belfast. Headed by the regiment band they marched along High Street, up Bridge Street into Donegall Street and on to the Barracks.
May 1850 The Belfast Rifle Club held their first practice meeting of the season at Mr Ballagh’s Fields, Bunkers Hill
A stack of wheat in the farm yard of William Coates of Ballymacarrett was deliberately set on fire at Malone.
Two well known thieves Thomas Whiteside and James Reid were sent to trial after stealing the poor box from the Shankill Church.
A young man named Mark Brand killed himself after taking an overdose of laudanum in a house in Joy Street. He had been a shop man in High Street.
A pauper named Francis McGrady was sent to prison for one month for absconding from the Workhouse.
A carriage man named Peter Grant was fined five shillings in the Belfast Police Court for unnecessarily and cruelly whipping his horse.
An inquest jury returned a verdict of ‘found drowned’ on the body of a sailor named Dennis McIlmoyle who was found dead in the water at Queen’s Quay
A 12 year old boy was sent to prison for three months and ordered to be well whipped for the theft of a few handkerchiefs.
An inquest was held on the body of an old man named Robert Mitchell who died in the Frederick Street Hospital. It appears that he was intoxicated while riding a trap from Carrickfergus to Belfast when he fell off.
June 1850 Two boys named William Dunn and William McMullan were sent to prison for two weeks with hard labour for absconding from the Workhouse.
A woman named Catherine Tuton was sent to prison for three months for absconding from the Workhouse and leaving her children behind.
It has been reported in the Belfast Newspapers that a gamekeeper at Seaforde has been brutally murdered.
July 1850 William Boyd, servant of Francis Dazel Finlay of the Northern Whig newspaper, was embarking from a steamer at Donegall Quay when he lost his footing and fell in. His body was recovered from the water a few days later.
A desperate affray broke out between police and Orangemen at the Malone Turnpike when the Orangemen were attempting to parade. A young boy with a drum was arrested and afterwards a riot erupted.
A young man was drowned while bathing in the River Lagan behind the Gas Works. A few hours the body of another young man was found in the water at Thompson’s Wharf.
August 1850 A young boy named James McKinney, aged about 10, was found drowned in the harbour near Queen’s Bridge. he had been missing for almost a week and an inquest returned the verdict of ‘found drowned.’
Two men named Patrick Dobbin and Peter Campbell were fined in the Belfast Police Court of gathering a crowd and acting in a disorderly manner at the Castle Market.
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Tricia

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Re: Newspaper/Court Extracts

PostMon Jul 14, 2014 11:01 pm

Loads of names in here folks have a good root over UNITEDBLOGS
newspaper posts
My ipad controls my spellings not me so apologies from it in advance :) lol
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Re: Newspaper/Court Extracts

PostTue Jul 15, 2014 1:37 am

I just love reading these old newspaper extracts. Although some of the stories are so sad about the workhouse kids. Like the 12yo boy whipped for absconding from the workhouse.

Keep them coming. :shock:
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Re: Newspaper/Court Extracts

PostTue Jul 15, 2014 8:17 pm

I luv then too Maree ...did you know they marched barefooted and starving waifs from carrickfergus jail to belfast crumlin road jail..found there was no room and marched them all back again ..not all made the return journey alive :cry:
My ipad controls my spellings not me so apologies from it in advance :) lol

unitedblogs

Re: Newspaper/Court Extracts

PostWed Jul 16, 2014 2:23 am

There is no doubt that we are all horrified when we hear of crulety to children but beleive it or not this occurance was once common place in Victorian Belfast when many were subjected to cruelty and neglect from drunken or uncaring parents. Others were forced to endure a life of untold hardships which ended in untimely death and suffering. In the Belfast of the late 19th century many were put to work in mills for frightfully long hours in the most appalling conditions. The conditions in the homes where they lived however was not much better. In the majority of cases complete families were forced to live in a single room sharing drinking water and toilet facilities with the rest of the street. It was with scenes of depravation such as this which led to the formation of a society to protect the rights of children. That organisation was the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (N.S.P.C.C.). Branches were established in many of the main industrial cities in the British Isles. The first branch formed in Ireland was established in Dublin on the 16th of June 1889. Another branch soon followed to deal with the Northern counties. In 1891 their first local office was located at 21 Arthur Street, Belfast.



March 27 1909
BELFAST CHILD STARVED TO DEATH!
Shocking disclosures were revealed at an inquest in Belfast on the body of a little Belfast child named Eileen Quail. The baby was five months old and lived at 37 Merrion Street. The parents of the child David and Elizabeth Quail both appeared in court.
Mrs Armstrong deposed that she had been a neighbour of the Quails and had known them for almost a year. When their baby was born they were living in Turin Street at the Grosvenor Road and at that time the child was a fat, healthy baby. That was in October. The following month Quail was out of work and his family moved up to 36 Theodore Street to live with Mrs Armstrong. When she was asked did she think the family neglected the child she claimed that sometimes the child did not get anything to drink from “six at night until about eight the following morning.” When asked did she know how the Quail family lived she replied that she did not. She went on to tell the court that Mrs Quail went out every night at eight o’clock and never returned until early the next morning and sometimes she did not return until four o’clock the following morning. Proceeding the witness said that she never saw the child getting any food in the absence of its mother although the father might have given it some in the absence of the witness. On one occasion Mrs Armstrong spoke to the parents about their treatment of the child and threatened to bring the “cruelty” on them.
District Inspector Redmond - Did you often hear the child screaming at night while its mother was absent? Yes
The Coroner - And I suppose you saw the child wasting away for the want of food and that is why you threatened to report the matter? Yes.
District Inspector Redmond - The result of all that was that when they left you in the middle of January the child was in a very weakly and sickly condition? Yes
And did you believe that was brought about by neglect? Yes.
“About a fortnight ago,” concluded the witness, “I saw the child and it then looked more wasted and exhausted than ever. On six or seven occasions I have seen the mother under the influence of drink with the child in her charge.”
Dr Kennedy said that he made a post mortem examination on the child’s body along with Dr Houston. It was only about six pounds in weight and presented a very wasted appearance. There was no trace of food in the stomach and they came to the conclusion that death was due to starvation.
District Inspector Redmond - What weight should a five month old baby be?
Witness - About 12lbs or 16lbs.
You found no trace of food whatsoever in the stomach? No.
The child must have been without food for at lest twelve hours? Yes.
The Coroner said that a few days previous he had made a remark about infantile mortality. Belfast seemed to be getting a special place for child murder. He also said that he knew that the jury would do their duty. They couldn’t come to any other conclusion than that the child was starved to death.
David Quail, the father of the child elected to make a statement. He appeared to be a well educated man although he said that his occupation was that of a labourer. He had been working for he Corporation for seven weeks and his weekly wage was £1.00. To get this he had to leave home for work at 5.30am each morning and got home again twelve hours later. His daughter had been in a delicate state for the past month and they had been feeding her on milk. They had two feeding bottles - one for day use and one for night use. They used three tins of milk weekly About three weeks before the child’s death the child had been taken to the Children’s Hospital by Mrs Quail. The baby had a cold and they kept a fire going in the room all night. On the 23rd March the child seemed to have recovered and ‘looked brighter’ than usual. He saw it fed twice that evening. Then on Wednesday morning he looked at the child and noticed that she ‘looked as if she were breathing her last.’ Quail went on to tell the coroner’s court that he had never heard Mrs Armstrong complain of the way his daughter was being treated but the Coroner disagreed and stated that he believed that David Quail was not telling the truth.

The jury at the inquest then retired and, after a short absence, returned. The foreman announced that they had found a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence - that the child died from starvation and that this was caused by the wilful neglect of the parents.
At the conclusion of the inquest both David and Elizabeth Quail were arrested and charged with manslaughter and not murder. This charge was based upon the finding of the jury that the child died from ‘wilful neglect.’ Elizabeth Quail insisted that nothing was found in her daughter’s stomach due to the type of food she was being fed with was such that no trace would be found because it did not remain in the stomach. Both the accused were remanded in custody.

What made the City Coroner make such a remark inferring that Belfast was now a place which specialised in child murder? After browsing through the papers and events around the beginning of 1909 I was horrified to discover some amazing tales of child abuse and neglect.

March 1909

CHILD’S BODY IN A BUCKET
In the recorder’s Court in Townhall Street on March 11 the City Coroner was again hearing the inquest on the brutal death of a Belfast child. This time it concerned the newly born child which died at birth and whose mother Sarah Lough, aged 17, resided at 68 Walton Street. This inquest had started a fortnight previously but was adjourned pending the attendance of the girl who was an inmate of the Union Hospital. The girl’s father had been arrested for cruelty to his children and was present at the inquiry in the custody of the police. Professor Symmers occupied a seat at the hearing next to Dr Graham, the Coroner.

The young girl, Sarah Lough was ‘dressed in Workhouse clothes and also seemed to be in a delicate condition,’ according to the reporters who covered the case for the local press. She told the court that her mother had died about a year previous and since that time, her father and three children all slept in the same room which they occupied at 68 Walton Street. On the morning of February 24th she felt ill and sent her father for a neighbour, but before his return the child was born and she was so weak she could not attend to it and so she left it in a bucket. The neighbour, Mrs Pollock, arrived soon afterwards in the company of two doctors, Dr Ritchie and Dr Fulton.
The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the child came to its death from suffocation as a result of misadventure at birth and added a rider condemning the conditions under which the family were forced to live in the one room.
Samuel Lough, the father of this poor family, was brought up before the magistrate, Mr Garrett Nagle, in the Belfast Custody Court charged with neglecting his children.

It had been pointed out at a later trial in August 1909 that under the Children Act parents notwithstanding poverty, were bound to provide proper lodging, clothing and food for their children.
In that case the two week old daughter of James and Catherine McGowan died through culpable neglect in not providing proper lodging and medical aid for the child. The father was subsequently arrested and brought before the courts.



Child Murder




A jury heard how his wife spent most of her housekeeping on drink and that prior to the death of this child she had another nine children, six of whom died. When questioned further it was revealed that inquests were held on three of their other children, the last of which found that that child died in similar circumstances.
Deprivation and squalid living conditions such as these were widespread. It was conditions like these which led directly to the forming of a society in 1891 to help unfortunate children who were caught up in such appalling conditions. Early NSPCC reports outlined the case of a boy of five whose mother had burned him with a red hot poker while another told the terrible story of an eight year old whose mother would leave him drugged and bound in a locked orange box under the bed when she went out. No one seemed to care. In fact at this time it should be noted that a society had already been formed to protect animals from cruelty while the proper welfare of young children was being ignored.
Add this to the case of the nurse who opened a baby farm at Hawthorn Street and it is harrowing to read that she was intoxicated at every opportunity. She had the charge of a young baby which had been born to a girl called Nesbitt, who was then working at Stranraer. Nurse Heaney agreed to rear the child in her absence having placed advertisements for the same in the local newspapers. An inquest was told that this was the first child which she had had charge of and it died, aged three and a half months. The court tried to ascertain would the child have died if it had been looked after in different circumstances. Although the child died from the results of a convulsive attack Professor Symmers, a leading expert who was often called in to give evidence in instances of child neglect, said - “I think it possible it would have lived. It seemed to be constitutionally normal in every other way. It certainly had not been nourished in the way one would like to see an infant looked after.”

An Inspector Barry from the NSPCC was also called to testify. He claimed that someone had reported the nurse to his society and, as a result, he was sent out to investigate the matter. When he arrived at the house in Hawthorn Street he had considerable difficulty gaining access. When Nurse Heaney eventually opened the door she explained that she had been asleep. It was his opinion that she was ‘considerably under the influence of drink.’ The child , which was well-clad and lying in a cot appeared to be in a convulsive fit and it was his opinion that the nurse was ‘quite incapable of taking charge of it.’ Two days later the child, which was still in the custody of Nurse Heaney, was dead.

unitedblogs

Re: Newspaper/Court Extracts

PostWed Jul 16, 2014 2:27 am

The 1908 Children’s Act which went through Parliament established Juvenile Courts and tackled Infant Life Protection which meant foster parents now had to be registered and were not allowed to insure the children thereby discouraging the practice of ‘baby farming.’
Professor Symmer’s evidence in court cases at Belfast always made for harrowing reading. He specialised in cruelty cases sometimes where wilful neglect was obvious. When he outlined the extent of some of the injuries children endured most of the court and gallery reeled in horror.

WORKHOUSE CRUELTY

Not only were children exposed to cruelty in their own homes or on the streets themselves. Some instances of exceptional cruelty have been recorded in the workhouse or other ‘official’ institutions where children should have been better cared for. In one instance the ‘cruelty man’ (NSPCC Inspector) was called in and the Board of Guardians heard how a three year old child had been mercilessly whipped by a housemaster at the Workhouse.

HORRIFIC DEATH

Incidents such as these were thankfully rare but on other occasions sustained and systematic cruelty ended with the tragic death of the young victim. In one such case a man was executed at Belfast Prison in August 1909. The man had been found guilty of beating his young four year old daughter to death in their house at North Belfast. The NSPCC sent a letter to the press at the time in an attempt to stir both the public and official conscience. It is sad to think that perhaps that young girl would have been freed from such abuse if only neighbours had intervened.
The letter reads as follows:-
Sir - The curtain having fallen upon the final scene on the sad tragedy of little Annie Thompson’s death, will you grant me space for a brief reference to it? On Friday, the 12th March, the day on which was terminated the child’s miserable existence, an anonymous letter which lies before me as I write, was received at this office. In the letter the writer details the sufferings of the child for the period of “two months”. and asks the society to interfere. The opening sentence, of the letter runs thus:-
I was to drop you a note last week. Now “last week” meant at least six days before, probably longer. If the intention expressed by the writer had been carried out, it is possible Annie Thompson would be alive today, and Richard Justin also. The history of the case as revealed in the court shows only too clearly that if an officer of the society had visited “last week” he would have found ample grounds for the society proceeding at once to have the child removed to "a place of safety”. It is inconceivable why any person seeing an innocent child suffering as Annie Thompson did, and knowing that the National Society existed to protect such a child, should delay even for one hour in giving information which would have brought immediate relief to the little sufferer. It is an unspeakably sad reflection that Annie Thompson might have been saved, but she is dead. She will not, however, suffered and died in vain if the memory of her cruel sufferings and terrible death be the means of impressing upon every individual member of the community the duty and responsibility of co-operating with the society in preventing the wrongs of helpless children by making it known to it without delay the case of any child who is not being fairly dealt with. The names of persons giving information are kept strictly private, and a personal call at this office, a telephone message, or a letter will receive immediate attention.
- Yours faithfully,
WILLIAM RODDEN,
Hon. Secretary
Belfast Branch N.S.P.C.C.

CHILD BEGGING OUTLAWED

There were many other children brutally murdered on our streets or in our homes since then but thankfully there are now laws to help reduce such crimes. The main law was the first Act of Parliament for the prevention of Cruelty to Children. The Bill which became known as the ‘Children’s Charter’, made it possible for the police to arrest anyone ill-treating a child and for them to enter a home if there was reasonable suspicion that a child was in danger. It also laid down guidelines about the employment of children and outlawed begging in the street.

INFANTICIDE

Cruelty to children has for a long time been one of the most repulsive of crimes which have featured prominently in every society throughout the world. It is by no means becoming any less so. On top of this it has not only been the requisite of men to be cruel to children, many women have carved a name for themselves in the history books for their evil actions against innocent children.
From 1900 until the law was changed in 1922 around 17 women were sentenced to death for infanticide throughout Ireland. The 1922 Infanticide Act meant that women who killed their new born babies were no longer subject to capital punishment. Doctors and psychiatrists have identified one well documented motive for such crimes as puerperal mania otherwise known as post natal depression or baby blues. Not every case can be classified thus however.



Child Murder




BIZARRE CASE

Cruelty can take many forms be it physical, mental or sexual. One of the most bizarre cases ever found in the North was that of the young child who was kept locked in a hen house at Broclough, Crossgar, County Down. The child’s mother pleaded guilty to neglect after she was brought before the court at Downpatrick in November 1956.

PUT ITS HANDS UP

The case was brought to light after three schoolboys noticed some strange activity at one of two hen houses at Halfpenny’s field at Crossgar. One boy, Desmond Bannon who later gave evidence about his discovery explained how when passing one of the hen houses he heard someone walking about inside. He went over for a closer look and after checking the door, which he found locked, went to look in through the window. The windows were covered on the inside by old sacks but as he was there someone lifted the covering and peered out. “I saw either a wee boy or a wee girl with long hair,” he stated. “I could see down to its waist and it had no clothes on, as far as I could see. I asked what its name was, and got no answer. I asked again but got no reply.” The boys evidence continued with more startling claims. He told the police that during the school holidays he went up to the hen houses again. This time he was accompanied by his friend. He said that once again the door was locked but when he knocked at the window the young child lifted up the sacking and put its hands up to the netting wire on the window. The children told how they next visited the hen house on two other occasions each time with more friends and on each occasion they saw the child, it was locked in the hen house. On the last occasion, which was about one month before the child was rescued, one of the boys, Sean McMullan told of knocking on the window. They could hear something shuffling inside then, before very long, someone came to the window and tried to lift up the bag which was covering it.

SUFFERING

The NSPCC and the police were notified of events at the farm and the child was named as Kevin Halfpenny, a seven-year old boy. He was immediately taken to the Nazareth Lodge Children’s Home. While here he was examined by doctors who were horrified to find that he only weighed two stone. His height was a mere 30 inches high and it was claimed that he was suffering from rickets for at least five years due to continual denial of sunlight.


MOTHER CHARGED

The boys mother, Mrs Margaret Halfpenny, was arrested and charged with ill-treating and neglecting the boy in a manner to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to his health. When she appeared in court NSPCC Inspector Alex Mahood gave evidence of examining the boy at Nazareth Lodge where he looked pale and thin. His arm and leg joints were swollen and his shin bones were concave in shape. Both legs were folded up beneath his buttocks while he was in a sitting position. The boy could only stand without assistance for half a minute and then he fell down on his semi-contracted legs. The child’s mother was allowed bail of £100 with one surety of £100. Meanwhile the child was given all the treatment necessary at the Children’s Home.
When the case came to trial Mrs Halfpenny pleaded guilty to a charge of wilful neglect. She was also arraigned on a charge of wilful ill-treatment to which she pleaded not guilty and the Crown entered a nolle prosequi on the charge. Judge Hanna explained that had not the Lower Court refused the submission by Halfpenny’s defence to prevent publicity in the case the public would have been unaware of all the details of the case.

HARDSHIP AND SUFFERING

Her defence maintained that the building in which the child had been kept was more of an outhouse than a hen house even though Mrs Halfpenny referred to it as a hen house in her own statement. Mrs Halfpenny also claimed that the child was not locked in that place except whenever she was going shopping at Downpatrick. Her own life was described to the court as being one of hardship and suffering. Her husband had died after they had been six years married and she was left with three daughters and two sons whom she had to rear single handed. The medical evidence however proved that the child had been suffering from rickets for a long time and Judge Hanna commented that, for four years, the child was kept for at least some periods in this outhouse where there were bags placed over the windows which kept out the light. It was said that the condition rickets was caused due to both a lack of sunlight and a diet without Vitamin D. Basil Kelly who led the woman’s defence deposed that Mrs Halfpenny had no other place to leave her child only in this outhouse. At that time, he said, “some of the children were out working and some were at home. Those at home were at school every day. Mrs Halfpenny was faced with the problem therefore of finding a safe place to leave the child while she went about her work. This was the safest place for a disabled or subnormal child where there was no fire, stairs and chairs about.”

HATRED OF THE PEOPLE
Judge Hanna sentencing Mrs Halfpenny said, “I cannot hide from myself that, while this might have been a clean and healthy place to keep a child from time to time if some attention had been paid to it, I cannot lose sight of the fact that the windows were covered by bags. Medical evidence here is that one of the things your child lacked was sunlight. You deprived him of something God gave him. You deprived him of something the State was prepared to give for nothing - medical advice and attention.”
He also commented on the difference she had made between that child and her other children. “Perhaps you were ashamed of the child. If you were it seems a sad thing that you should try to penalise the child.”
Commenting on the disgust that the public have for anyone who would victimise innocent children he said, “If I am a judge of public opinion in this country, any penalty I impose upon you will be nothing like the punishment and hatred of the people you will come in contact with once you are free.”
After pleading guilty to a lesser charge and having asked for the mercy of the court the judge declared that the course of the defence case meant that the penalty would have to be greatly reduced. As for showing mercy he said, “I do not know whether you are entitled to demand mercy. Perhaps, who knows, there may be some Divine providence who will provide it for you - a mercy I could never provide.” Mrs Halfpenny was sent to jail for nine months.

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Re: Newspaper/Court Extracts

PostWed Jul 16, 2014 2:32 am

not a healthy environment for a child
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Re: Newspaper/Court Extracts

PostWed Jul 16, 2014 11:07 pm

Thanx UNITEDBLOGS
for all the posts great reading
My ipad controls my spellings not me so apologies from it in advance :) lol

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Re: Newspaper/Court Extracts

PostSat Aug 02, 2014 11:52 pm

28 June 1889


Irish News.

Cork.—P. O'Hea, M. P., solicitor for Right Rev. Dr. McCarthy, Bishop of Cloyne, has commenced suit in the London courts against the New York Herald for its libelous comments on the Bishop's Lenten Pastoral.
Owen Ahern, of Ballygarvan, was evicted by Landlord J. B. Coghlan. The eviction party, composed of bailiffs and about thirty police, took the tenant by surprise, and he offered no resistance. There are already several evicted farms in the district, and as none of them have been grabbed the eviction is not likely to become a very profitable transaction for Mr. Coghlan.

Two widows, named Bridget Lombard and Catherine Carver, were evicted on the estate of Messrs. Hewitt, formerly distillers of Cork. The evicted families state that they were not allowed to purchase their holdings as the other tenants were. Mrs. Carver's son was arrested for throwing a stone at the evicting party, and taken to Cork Gaol.

On March 30 John O'Connor and John Curtin, parishioners of Rev. M. B. Kennedy, Meelin, were released from Cork Gaol, having undergone terms of imprisonment for attending a meeting of their National League branch. They were met outside the gaol and warmly greeted by several friends, including Mrs. O'Connor, D. M. Lenihan, John Curtin, John Lenihan, Newmarket ; James Murphy and James Hurigan.

On April 1 Millstreet witnessed an unusual exhibition of police violence. It was fair day, and a great crowd of people were in town. A difference sprang up between some persons, and a policeman who interfered was somewhat injured. A large body of police under Head-Constable O'Brien rushed from the barracks, and bludgeoned every one indiscriminately, and one old man was seriously hurt. A young man, who was looking on at the scene from outside the house of T. J. O'Sullivan, was knocked down and kicked furiously, and when Mr. O'Sullivan expostulated, the Head-Constable rushed after him into his house and threatened to arrest him, as he was "keeping a disorderly house," meaning that the League met there. It was with difficulty Mr. O'Sullivan saved himself from personal violence, and got the police to leave his premises.
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Re: Newspaper/Court Extracts

PostSun Aug 03, 2014 1:08 am

Great reading UNITEDBLOGS tho some very very sad
My ipad controls my spellings not me so apologies from it in advance :) lol

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Re: Newspaper/Court Extracts

PostWed Aug 13, 2014 3:41 pm

Belfast, Tuesday 20th April, 1909
BELFAST CHILD’S DEATH
PAINFUL STORY AT INQUEST
The City Coroner (Dr. James Graham) held an inquest in the Old Recorders Court, Townhall Street, Belfast, touching the death of Bridget McGowan, the two-week-old daughter of James and Catherine McGowan, which occurred on Saturday morning. Head constable Peate and Sergeant John J. Moore represented the constabulary.

Bridget Rooney, No.9 Murray’s Place, grandmother of the child, deposed that the deceased was born in her house about a fortnight ago. It was delicate from birth. The mother had been stopping in her house two or three days before the birth, and after the child was born she remained about a fortnight. She went out of Wednesday, 14th inst., and returned about nine o’clock, when the witness sent for the police to have her removed.



Head-Constable Peate – What state was she in?
Bridget Rooney - She was crying and wanted in. I took her in because the police told me.
Head-Constable Peate - Had she any drink taken?
Bridget Rooney – She had the smell of drink and was tossed looking, but she could walk well enough.

Proceeding, witness said her daughter went out the following morning, but she did not go to the Workhouse, as advised by the police, and returned on Friday evening between eight and nine o’clock. Witness gave her a cup of tea, and she said she had been looking for her husband and could not find him. During Friday night she sat on the stairs.
The Head-Constable – Did you refuse to allow her to go into the room?
Bridget Rooney - Certainly I did, she had a good fire.
Head-Constable - Did you refuse to allow her to go to the fire?
Bridget Rooney – I would not do that.
The Registrar (Mr. James Beattie) – did you refuse to allow her to go to bed?
Bridget Rooney – She had no bed and I had no bed for her.
Witness added that she shut the door on her daughter’s face and told her to go away but she did not do so.
The Coroner – I suppose she still had the smell of drink?
Bridget Rooney – She might have had some.

Head-Constable Peate – Did you allow her to remain on the stairs with two children all night?
Bridget Rooney – She could have gone into the fire. I would not give her the liberty to do so but she could have gone in if she liked.
Answering further questions witness said she again sent for the police on Friday night, but they took no action. The child was carefully dressed. She got out of bed about six o’clock on Saturday morning, and found her daughter in the hall lilting to the child, which was crying. Witness heard Mrs Hughes asking her daughter to go to her house but she did not remember stating that she heard her daughter telling Mrs Hughes that witness would not let her into her house. At the time of the birth the witness sent for a nurse.



Child Murder




This is the image that we have of childhood in the ‘Good Old Days.’ What a pity it’s a load of nonsense as this applied to less than 1% of the childhood population.





Head-Constable Peate – Was the child born before the nurse arrived?
Bridget Rooney – Oh, how long, and lying on the tiles too.
The Coroner – Are you positive the child was alive on Saturday morning?
Bridget Rooney – Yes, because it was crying.

Mrs Catherine Hughes, No.1 Murray’s Place, said that on Friday evening she saw Catherine McGowan sitting on the lowest step of the stairs in No.9 Murray’s Place with deceased and her little boy. Witness asked her why she was sitting there with her baby, and she replied that her mother would not let her into the house. Mrs Rooney opened the door when she heard witness’s voice, and refused to let her and her baby in, slamming the door in her face. On Saturday morning when passing the house witness saw Mrs. McGowan standing in the hall with the child in her arms. She asked witness to get her a glass of porter, but witness declined, and brought them to her house, where she said she would warm the child and give the boy a drop of tea. Witness took the child from Catherine McGowan to warm it, and then found that it was dead.
The Coroner - Was this woman under the influence of drink?
Catherine Hughes – She looked as if she had some early in the morning.
Constable Abraham Rothwell was also examined as to visiting Mrs. Rooney’s house when the mother of the deceased was there.

THE FATHERS STORY
James McGowan, father of the child was next called, but not sworn.
Head-Constable Peate – Do you know where your wife is?
James McGowan – No.
Have you been looking for her?
James McGowan – No.
When did you see her last?
James McGowan – Yesterday (Monday) evening.
Where?
James McGowan – At her mother’s door.
Where was she stopping?
James McGowan – She did not tell me where she was staying.
Where are you staying?
James McGowan – At the model lodging house in Station Street.
You have not seen your wife since last night?
James McGowan – No.
Did you ask her to be at this inquest today?
James McGowan – No.
Nothing passed between you as to the death of the child?
James McGowan – No.
You never mentioned it?
James McGowan – She told me she had been summoned to attend here today.
Did she ask you not to attend?
James McGowan – She told me that Sergeant Moore said I had no call to come.
What are you by trade?
James McGowan – A rope spinner.
What are your wages?
James McGowan – Twenty-one shillings a week.
Have you given anything to your wife lately?
James McGowan – Yes.
When?
James McGowan – I gave her a shilling last night, one on Friday at dinner time, and on Wednesday night I gave her the same.
Do you know what she did with it?
James McGowan – I could not say.
Why didn’t you provide a proper place for her to live in?
James McGowan – We had two rooms in Clermont Lane, and we were put out of them about a week before the child was born.
How many children has your wife had?
James McGowan – Ten.
How many of them are alive?
James McGowan – Three.
On how many of them were inquests held?
James McGowan – Two or three.
The Coroner – what was the cause of death in the last case?
James McGowan – Overlying.
Dr. James D. Williamson, J.P., Albertbridge Road, attributed death to acute congestion of the lungs.
Head-constable Peate – Might that have been brought about by unnecessary exposure?
James McGowan – Yes.
The Coroner – from the history of the case did that child receive proper treatment?
James McGowan – I am afraid not, sir.
Dr. W. J. Wilson concurred with Dr. Williamson.

The registrar pointed out to the jury that under the new Children Act, parents, not withstanding poverty, were bound to provide proper lodgings, clothing and food for their children. That could have been done in the present case by applying at the Workhouse.
The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, and added a rider to the effect that in their opinion death was caused by culpable neglect of its parents, James and Catherine McGowan, in not providing proper lodgings and medical aid for it.

ARREST OF THE FATHER
At the conclusion of the inquest Sergeant Moore arrested the father, James McGowan, on the charge of failing to provide proper lodging and medical aid for the child, as a result of which it died.
McGowan was then removed to the cells at the Central Police Office, Chichester Street, and was be brought before the magistrates in the Custody Court on Wednesday Morning.
He was later found guilty of neglect and sentenced to imprisonment in Belfast Prison.

Although this may seem a bit unfair as the father was 'not around' at the time of the child's death that was the whole point of the law. In these days women were seen as mere items and the fathers were therefore responsible for them and children. Fathers were also deemed responsible for any child they fathered and if they did not provide for them then they were prosecuted. We have this rosy image of the good old days but the fact of the matter is they were a living hell and if you do not want to take my word for it them simply go to the records of the courts, leave aside the massive criminal material, and look at just how we treated our children. It is then that you'll realise that the 'Good Old Days' were just not that great after all!

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Re: Newspaper/Court Extracts

PostSat Aug 16, 2014 8:08 pm

The Belfast News-Letter, Friday, 15 June, 1849

FOUNDERING OF ANOTHER IRISH EMIGRANT SHIP.
ONE HUNDRED AND NINE LIVES LOST.


Scarcely has the melancholy interest produced by the
loss of the Hannah, Irish emigrant ship, and nearly
two hundred lives, subsided, ere if falls to our painful
duty to announce another similar catastrophe, the
foundering of the ship Maria, from Limerick, in a field
of ice, and the sacrifice of the vast amount of human
life. The particulars contained in the advices of the
shocking event, as received from Quebec by the Canada
(American) mail steamer, state, that the ship's
destruction took place at midnight, on the 10th of last
month, so suddenly, that she almost instantaneously, on
striking, went down, carrying with her no less than one
hundred and nine unhappy human beings, all of whom
perished.
The Maria, it appears, was an old vessel, manned by
a crew of ten hands, including the master, Mr. Hesligeau.
She sailed from Limerick on the 2nd of April last, with
one hundred and eleven passengers, about eighty men and
women, and the remainder their families, for Quebec,
the emigrants intending to settle in Canada. About 20
days' sailing brought the vessel to within fifty miles
of St.Paul's. Here severe weather was encountered, and
a large field of ice sighted. The ship was hove to with
a view of clearing the huge frozen mass. Unfortunately,
however, the manoeuvre had but little effect, for late
that night, the 10th of May, she ran into a berg with
terrific force. The whole of her bows were stove in,
and the next moment the sea was rushing into the hold
with the violence almost of a cataract. A piercing
shriek was heard from below, but it was only for a
few moments duration, as the ship went down almost
immediately. It was the mate's watch, who with one
seaman and a cabin boy, succeeded in saving three lives
by one of the boats, which floated from the wreck as she
foundered. About twenty of the passengers managed to
reach the deck just before she went down, some of whom
jumped on to the ice, while others clung to the floating
spars. Nine only, however, could be preserved - six
men, two women, and a boy, who had got on the ice.
Nothing was seen of the master or the rest of the crew.
They all perished with the remainder of the passengers.
Exposed in the boat to the most inclement weather, the
helpless survivors remained the whole of the following
day. Eventually a barque, named the Roslin Castle, and
the Falcon, a brig, approached and took them on board.
The poor creatures had suffered severely from the cold,
and their condition was the most heartrending. Their
names are given as follows:- Michael Cussack, Joseph
Lynch, Bridget O'Gorman, spinster, Conners, William Brew,
John Hogan, and Patrick McTigue. The survivors of the
Maria's crew are William Collins, mate, John Pickering,
seaman, and Michael Tague, cabin boy, making in all, out
of the one hundred and twenty-one souls on board, only
twelve saved. In consequence of the brig Falcon being
short of water, those who were picked up by her were
transferred on board the Roslin Castle, which proceeded
direct to Quebec and arrived there last Saturday
fortnight.
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Re: Newspaper/Court Extracts

PostSun Aug 17, 2014 2:51 pm

Fantastic reading truly
My ipad controls my spellings not me so apologies from it in advance :) lol

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Re: Newspaper/Court Extracts

PostThu Aug 21, 2014 11:39 pm

A ROYAL VISIT 1900

The Philadelphia Inquirer, 6 April 1900




WHEN THE PRINCE VISITED IRELAND
———
What James Ahern, of This City, Knows About England's Future King
———
IS A TRUE GENTLEMAN
———
No Extraordinary Precautions Taken When He Toured Through the Green Isle
———

The attempted assassination of the Prince of Wales, which occurred at Brussels on Tuesday, directs attention to the fact that James Ahern, janitor of the Catholic Club, on Locust street, is perhaps the only Philadelphian who has been in close touch with the “First Gentleman of Europe” during the latter's journeys. Mr. Ahern is a son of the Emerald Isle, and while loyal to his native country, believes it for the best of all that the visit of the aged Queen to Ireland will not be marred by the disgraceful scenes which attended the advent of the Prince of Wales at Cork in 1885. A telegrapher, attached to the staff at Cork, Mr. Ahern with eight others, was sent to meet the Prince at Ballyhooley, where Albert Edward was visiting the Earl of Listowel at the latter's country seat, Connamora House. The opportunities afforded Mr. Ahern for studying the characteristics and movements of the Prince were exceptional.
“The Prince moved about as freely as the most ordinary citizen,” he told an Inquirer reporter last night. “No extra precautions were taken for his safety. It was in the spring of 1885 that I received orders to proceed to Ballyhooley, and for more than two weeks I saw the Prince daily. Contrary to rumors, the Prince's tastes are simple, and his suite was not an extensive one. His Irish [visit], however, did not continue a peaceful one, as the publisher remembers. Everything went smoothly enough for a while, but when the English tories began to make political capital of the visit the Irish Nationalists showed their displeasure


SIGNED AMONG PRINCES.

“It was while the Prince and Princess of Wales visited the lakes at Killarney that I saw the heir apparent to the best of advantage. He was here for a week. One day he and his party went to the Gap of Dunloe, at the head of the lakes. A crowd of us followed the next day. The Prince had gone on Saturday and Sunday being an off day for us, we wanted to make the best of the opportunity. At the Gap we went to the registering place, where the names of some of the most famous people in Europe are inscribed. When I opened the register I saw the following names registered: Albert Edward, Alexandria, Alex Edward, Lord and Lady Spencer. I thought the chance a good one to get in line, so I simply added my own humble signature to those of royalty and the rest of the party followed suit. Nobody had arrived at the Gap in the meantime, so no other names stood between the royal party's and ours.
“The Prince of Wales, as I remember him then, certainly earned the title of being the 'First Gentleman of Europe.' His bearing was military, but even then he was not what many consider a young man.

“There is a lesson to be learned from his visit to Ireland, as it applies to the present visit of the Queen. Should the English press keep within bounds and simply show pleasure because the Irish people are receiving the aged monarch, well, then there should be no trouble. But if English enthusiasm runs away with itself, and proclaims that this is an evidence that the Irish nation is satisfied with things as they exist, nobody can tell what may turn up. Individually I hope the best for the grand old woman, who every Irishman must revere as a noble woman. Politics should not be made to interfere with her stay among the Irish. If it does, then there may be a repetition of what happened during that spring of 1885, when my duties called me to witness occurrences that are now historic.”

Mr. Ahern has been in Philadelphia about five years. He was in the Cork telegraph service for more than eighteen years, and has traveled extensively. He is very popular among his countrymen in this city and is looked upon as conversant with affairs that seldom fall under the observation of the ordinary citizen.

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Re: Newspaper/Court Extracts

PostTue Aug 26, 2014 12:10 am

THE MEATH CHRONICLE
Saturday, October 28, 1899







NAVAN PETTY SESSIONS - Wednesday

Before Mr. Burke-Irwin, R M (presiding)
Others present were: - Sir John Dillon, Messrs T. Gerrard, F Sheridan, H Cullen and W N Waller.

THE VACCINATION ACT.

The Navan Board of Guardians prosecuted John Clarke, Patrick Coyle, Thomas Kennedy, and Terence Newman for failing to have their respective children vaccinated as required by the Act of Parliament.- Mr. Sullivan prosecuted.- Dr. Ryan, registrar, examined by Mr. Sullivan, stated that in these cases there was no registration of vaccination. In the case of the boy Henry Newman, Mr. Davis, C P S mentioned that since the issue of the summons a certificate from Dr. Finnegan had been handed in.- Chairman: In the case of vaccination by an outside practitioner should not notice of it be given to the registrar.- Mr. Davis: Yes.- Mr. Sullivan said he would ask for costs of 10s in each of those cases and £1 is the Doctor's fee. He did not think the guardians should be put to expense in the matter.- The Chairman said those people should be taught that they should comply with the law; John Clarke would be fined 1s 6d and 6s 6d costs; Patrick Coyle, 5s and 15s costs; Thomas Kennedy, 1s and 5s costs; Terence Newman, 3s and 17s costs.

SANITARY CASES

The Navan Urban District Council prosecuted Mr. Keappock for breach of the Public Health Act in not providing proper sanitary accommodation in the billiard room, situated in Trimgate street.- Mr. J Taylor appeared for the Board.- MR. J M'Donnell S S Officer deposed that he visited the premises and in consequence of what he saw he drew the attention of Dr. Ryan to it.- Dr. Ryan deposed to having examined the house in question. It was kept as a Billiard room. There was no sanitary accommodation in the place, and thus it caused a nuisance. There was no water closet or ash pit.- Mr. James Lawler, Town Clerk deposed that he was executive sanitary officer, this case had been reported to him and he caused the notice dated the 10th July to be served. Six weeks would be a reasonable time to make the sanitary accommodation. The usual order was made with £1 costs.
The same Authority summoned Mr. E. Sclater in respect of a house occupied by Mrs. Meleady, in Watergate street. - Dr. Ryan stated that his attention was directed to this house, and he found a nuisance in the yard by reason of there being no drain, but there was a nice channel outside.- Mr. Sclater: Are there not two water closets in drain into the channel.- I am not aware.- Mr. Clarke: Is there any proper water supply to the house? No.- Mr. Sclater mentioned that he had written asking a committee of the Commissioners should meet him and discuss the matter, and he was actually in consideration of the four of them when the notices were served on him.- Mr. Lawler: The instructions to the Solicitor to proceed were issued long before.- Dr. Ryan replying to further questions stated that there was no nuisance in the house and in his opinion a channel would be better than an underground pipe.- The Bench dismissed the case.
Mr. R H Metge was summoned at the instance of the same Authority for a like offense in connection with two houses his property situated in Trimgate street. The summons server stated that when he served the summons he was informed that Mr. Metge was away from home, and the cases were accordingly adjourned.

DISORDERLY

Constable Crotty summoned Michael Finnegan for being drunk and disorderly on the 18th October. Compainant stated that defendant was making use of very bad language and was a common nuisance. The defendant was sent to jail for one month.

DRUNKENNESS

Constable M'Cabe summoned Patrick Brien for being drunk on the public street of Navan. Fined 7s. 6d. Mary Goff at the instance of the same complainant was fined 5s for a like offence. Joseph Goff was fined 5s, the Bench intimating that if he came up again he would be sent to jail.

ALL OVER TWO DOGS

Constable Joynt summoned a man named Peter M'Govern for interfering with him in the discharge of his duty.- Complainant deposed that on the day in question he had occasion to go to Mrs. Turner's about dogs which were fighting on the street. Defendant was present and asked what right he had to interfere, stating at the same time that witness had as much to drink as three men. He also caught him by the tunic. The latter part of the statement was denied, but the bench convicted and fined defendant 7s 6d.

CRUELTY

Head Constable Henderson prosecuted James Clarke for being guilty of cruelty to a horse yoked to a cart, loaded with coal at Academy street, on the 21st October. Mr. Magee defended. The Head Constable stated that on the date mentioned in the summons he was coming from the railway and he saw defendant in the hollow of the road at Academy street in charge of a horse and cart, which was loaded with coal. Defendant's back was towards the witness and he saw him rise his foot and give the animal two fearful kicks. It was one of the most brutal things he had ever seen.- Mr. Magee: Was not this the second attempt that was made to get the horse up the hill?- I can't say. He was just starting when I saw him. He was not aware it was the second time defendant attempted to get the horse up the hill.- Mr. Magee said he would not deny the fact the man kicked the horse, but he wished to point out that a certain amount of punishment was allowable-- The bench convicted and fined defendant 7s 6d. The chairman remarked this was a serious offence and rendered the offender liable to two months' imprisonment.
Constable Michael Beirne summoned Thomas Fitzsimons for being guilty of cruelty to a number of cattle in his charge on last Monday at Navan Fair Green. The Constable stated that on the day in question he found defendant in charge of a lot of cattle, the property of Mr. Sheridan. He was beating them with an ash plant (produced) without the slightest apparent cause. Defendant was fined 2s 6d. Before leaving the court defendant demanded the plant and on obtaining it asked the bench if he could hurt cattle with such a light stick.- Mr. Gerrard: If you got it laid across your own back you might not think it so light (laughter).

ALLEGED POACHING

Sergeant Sullivan summoned two men named Christopher Clarke and Patrick Sherlock for being found in possession of 12 rabbits and 9 nets on the 20th of the present month.-- Mr. Magee defended,- The Sergeant stated that on the date in question he found the defendants coming from the direction of Lismullen demesne, which was Sir John Dillon's place. He asked them if they had permission to go on any land, and they stated they had liberty from Mr. Joe Kelly. He sent a constable to Kelly, who informed him that he had given no permission. Mr. Magee: Where did you take the nets? On the public road opposite the barracks. You asked them for the permission to kill ground game? Yes. Did they tell you they were coming from any particular place? Yes, from Kelly's. He might also mention that the men said Kelly had been with them that morning. Witness said he had never seen the men passing the barrack before-- Patrick Sherlock deposed, in reply to Mr. Magee, that on the morning the sergeant met them they were coming from catching rabbits on Kelly's land. He had permission from Miss Kelly (produced) to do so.-- Chairman: This will not do; it is not evidence. The lady should be here.-- Mr. Magee: Her brother is here and will verify the letter. By the Game Act of 1880 written authority is quite sufficient authority for anyone to kill ground game.-- Chairman: Yes, but that should be proved on oath.-- Mr. Magee: We have her brother here. I may mention that there is an arrangement with Miss Kelly by which my clients give a certain percentage of the rabbits they catch to the owner.-- Mr. J Kelly stated that he never objected to anyone going on his land to kill game. The written permission produced was in the handwriting of his sister. The rabbits damaged his property.-- Constable Trimble stated that he had a conversation with Kelly on the 21st and he then told him he had not given permission.-- Mr. Kelly, recalled, stated that he had not given permission in this particular case, but he had not objection to anyone hunting over it.-- The Bench dismissed the case and ordered the nets and rabbits to be returned to the men.

HUSBAND AND WIFE

A man named Carr summoned his wife for assaulting him at their residence in Navan. There was a cross case in which Mrs. Carr, who was ornamented on each side of the face, charged her husband in a similar way.-- Mr. Sullivan appeared for Carr.--Carr stated that after the fair of Kells he had given his wife £1 and after Navan, 6s. He went to her for something to eat the day after the latter fair, but she told him to go to his bad company and get it. He again returned about one o'clock but there was nothing for him, and his wife got hold of a jug out of the dresser and only he pushed her aside she would have knocked the brains out of him. --Mrs. Carr ,in her evidence, stated that she was in dread of her life of her husband and claimed the protection of the law.-- Both cases were dismissed.

THE LADIES AMENITIES

Lizzie Masterson summoned a woman named Kate Ryan for assaulting her.-- The defendant stated that she could easily bring rebutting evidence and the case was adjourned to enable her to do so.

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Re: Newspaper/Court Extracts

PostFri Nov 14, 2014 10:18 am

Belfast news letter 1880

26 April 1800


Dublin, April 22.
Napper Tandy is to be tried on Monday fe'nnight.
Lloyd's List of the 11th says that the Inflexible, Wassenaar, Stately, and Alkmaar, men of war ; Romulas, Expedition, Pallas, Charon, Hebe, and Vestal frigates, and Serapis storeship, with troops on board, are bound to Waterford.
In the county of Wicklow near the Glen of Imauel, Captain Dwyer's gang surprised and disarmed some soldiers, sending them not only empty but naked away.
In the county Kildare, a little beyond Ballytore, last Wednesday the Post-boy was stopped and robbed by three men armed with blunderbusses.
Yesterday morning, between six and seven o'clock, a Gentleman was robbed on the public road at Baggotrath, close to Dublin, by five armed men.
Lifford Assizes ended on Wednesday last, and proved a maiden one, there not having been a single conviction of any kind for and offence whatever, which proves the happy state of tranquillity and industry of the county of Donegall. This circumstance intitles [sic] the Judge to a pair of gold fringe gloves from the Sheriff.
Henry Stokes and Patrick Sheehan, found guilty by a General Court Martial at Limerick, of the murder of Messrs. Boland, were on Monday morning last taken form the new Barrack, under an escort of the Lancashire dragoons, to the hill of Fedamore, where they were hanged, after which their bodies were brought to Limerick and thrown into Croppies'-hole at the new gaol.
Sheehan, on the morning of his execution, informed a gentleman, that if he would give him his oath that his (Sheehan's) life would be saved, he would give the most useful information, not only of nocturnal rebel-meetings, and of the vast number of arms in their possession, but of their intended robberies and assassination.
Same day Moriarty, for prevarication on the trial of the above convicts, received 100 lashes at the foot of the gallows, in part of his sentence.
Among the spectators who attended at the execution of the murderers at Fedamore, on Monday last, a man of the name of Patrick Haneen was recognized and brought to the county gaol, against whom we are assured, there is positive proof of his being the first person who set fire to the murdered and much lamented Mr. J. Boland's house at Manister.
Saturday fe'nnight John Brien, lately tried by a Court-Martial for the murder of Nathaniel Brien, was hanged at Clonlawrence, near Beerhaven, county of Cork, pursuant to the sentence of the Court.

TO THE PUBLIC.
WHEREAS my wife, Margaret Irwin, otherwise Brownlee, eloped from me on Friday night last, without any just cause or complaint, and carried off with her several valuable articles of my wearing apparel, and some cash.—This is therefore to caution the Public, not to give her any credit on my account, as I am determined after this public notice, not to pay any debt she may contract ; and also to prosecute any person harbouring her.—Given under my hand, at Cabra, County Down, 19th April, 1800.
ROBERT IRVIN [sic
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Re: Newspaper/Court Extracts

PostSat Nov 22, 2014 12:43 am

Fascinating reading.
LGC

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Re: Newspaper/Court Extracts

PostSat Nov 22, 2014 12:50 am

thank you :mrgreen:
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Tricia

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Re: Newspaper/Court Extracts

PostSat Nov 22, 2014 1:23 am

Great stuff JOE fascinating indeed
My ipad controls my spellings not me so apologies from it in advance :) lol

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Re: Newspaper/Court Extracts

PostSat Nov 22, 2014 1:27 am

lots more to follow
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Tricia

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Re: Newspaper/Court Extracts

PostMon Nov 24, 2014 1:31 pm

Knowledge is a wonderful weapon :D
My ipad controls my spellings not me so apologies from it in advance :) lol

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Re: Newspaper/Court Extracts

PostSat Jan 03, 2015 10:47 pm

The Times
London, Middlesex, England

August 2, 1820

CAVAN ASSIZES.

Wm. Wilson, a pensioner from the 8th Foot, and Lucy Gardner, stood indicted for conspiring, with Francis Cunningham, a pensioner from the 101st Foot, to charge and capitally convict several persons with forming a conspiracy to murder the Rev. George Spaight, and by such conviction to obtain a reward.

Francis Cunningham, an approver, sworn. - Deposed that he knew the prisoners at the bar, and identified them; he had a conversation with Wilson in his (Wilson's) house, in the town of Cavan, on the 13th of May last; Wilson told witness that a party was formed against Mr. Spaight, and asked him to join in frustrating it, and that by doing so he would get a large sum of money: that the party of con- spirators consisted of Father Magrath, Terence and Charles Maguire, - Gordon, and Quin, and he wanted witness to make oath of the existence of such conspiracy, which witness declined. After that conversation, Wilson came very often to witness who de- clined to join in swearing against these men. Wilson urged him to do so, and said that, by swearing to the conspiracy, he would get a large sum of money, and pressed him to go and inform Mr. Spaight of it. Witness at last consented, and went to Mr.Spaight, and in- formed him that such conspiracy existed; he then went and swore informations before a magistrate that such conspiracy was formed by Magrath, the Maguires, Gordon, and Quin: he had no conversation with Lucy Gardner respecting it. Wilson came above twenty times to him before he consented; he sometimes came two and three times in the day.

By the COURT - Knew nothing of Wilson previously to the 13th May, except that he once saw him in Granard, about 12 months since; does not know where he lived; heard him, when he saw him in Granard, say he was a pensioner, he was then a pedlar selling soft goods, and witness bought a handkerchief from him in Granard; did not then tell Wilson that he was a pensioner. The 13th of May was the day he first came to witness. Knew the day by the day he took the house: it was the day after the fair at Cavan. First told Mr. Spaight that Wilson and he were the conspirators about 2 or 3 days ago. Swore informations against the men and swore falsely in such informa- tions; swears he never knew the men, before; he was promised by Wilson for so swearing a large sum of money, which would make him rich all his life. Wilson lived in lodgings; witness never slept in his lodgings; never slept in the house; he swore he did so, and swore falsely. Did not know Magrath, never saw him; sore MA- grath was to shoot Mr. Spaight; swore falsely; the devil tempted him. Was induced to disclose the conspiracy to Mr. Spaight, as he would not assist in taking away their lives. [Gordon and the two Maguires were then in gaol on the informations of the prisoners, and Cunningham, but the bills against them were thrown out by the grand jury.] After this witness had terminated his evidence, the learned Judge ordered the gaoler to take him into custody; the depravity of his conduct struck horror into the whole auditory.

Joseph M'Gwire, Esq., examined - Is a magistrate of this county: (the informations of the prisoners were produced to Mr. M'Gwire) - he took those informations; knows the persons who swore them; they were the prisoners in the dock; they were sworn in the usual way. Here Mr. M'Gwire mentioned to the bench, that when taking the prisoners' informations he strongly doubted their truth, but feared that the prisoners' conduct was so depraved, that if he did not arrest the Maguires and Gordon, the prisoner, he feared, might assas- sinate Mr. Spaight, for the purpose of acquiring credit for himself, and attaching guilt to the men he swore against. The conduct of Mr. M'Gwire throughout the transaction evinced considerable penetra- tion, and was a great means of defeating this abominable conspiracy. The informations of the prisoners were read.

Rev. Patrick Rielly, parish-priest of Cavan, examined - Is the Roman-Catholic clergyman of this parish; heard his name mention- ed in the informations now read; what was then read referring to him was quite false; never heard of any conspiracy against Mr. Spaight till he heard of this transaction;

Mr. M'Gwire first told him of it.

Terence Maguire, one of the persons sworn against, examined - Lives in Edgworthstown; lived previously in Cavan; is learning the saddling business with his brother; knows Mr. Spaight; knows Charles Maguire and Gordon; never spoke to C. Maguire or Gor- don respecting taking away the life of Mr. Spaight; never heard of it; if any person said he did, it would be very false.

DEFENCE

Rev. Geo. Spaight sworn; examined by the prisoner - Knows prisoner since 17th of May, or thereabouts; gave witness information of a conspiracy which he stated to exist; required no money from witness; never saw the Maguires and prisoner together; kept the Maguires and Gordon in separate cells; prisoner had no conversation with them after their arrest till confronted before witness; does not re- collect Maguire saying he could have you thrown into the Lough, or banished; had some contradiction.

Molly Wilson (or Judge) sworn - [This witness, who was mo- ther to the prisoners, at first refused to take an oath, having, as she said, never taken one, though past 70 years of age: she was called on by the prisoners.] - Examined by prisoner - Knows Francis Cun- ningham; saw him in their house; he got shirts washed there; knows him to have slept with prisoner; saw other persons in the house with them; does not know what they did in the house; Cun- ningham had got out of bed when they were going away.

Cross-examined by MR. DEERING - Lives in Cavan a few weeks. Lived 19 years in Ballymahon; her son lived with her; he was in Trim about 3 years next August; heard of a gentleman named John Rothwell; recollects her son prosecuting men there for conspiring to take away Mr. Rothwell's life.

The learned Judge recapitulated the evidence, reminding the jury that they were entirely to discard from their minds the testimony of that degraded and infamous wretch Cunningham, who came there to swear that his solemn oath was not to be believed, and that he had but a short time before falsely sworn to informations which had for their object to deprive three innocent individuals of their lives.

The jury, without retiring from the box, returned a verdict against both the prisoners of Guilty.

JudgeJEBB immediately proceeded to pass the sentence of the law. Addressing himself to the prisoners in the most feeling manner, he remarked on the horrid depravity of the minds which could form and mature so base and horrid a conspiracy; their crime, he declared, was far more flagitious than that of two unfortunate men whose lives were to be sacrificed to a violation of the laws for the crime of burglary and robbery; they had stolen the property of their prosecutors, but the prisoners sought to deprive three innocent individuals, with whom they were even unac- quainted, of their lives, for the hope of a trifling reward; they sought by their death not only to plunge their families into poverty, but also to attach to them the ignominious stain which would result from such a death. He should be happy that the laws would enable him to exchange their sentences, and gladly would he do so, and pass on those unfortunate men, to whom he could not afford the slightest shadow of hope, that more mitigated punishment which he was obliged to pass on them, while he would assign to the prisoners that punishment which was even too lenient for their abominable de- pravity. As the laws would not allow him to punish them in such manner, he would, however, take care to punish them in the most ex- emplary manner the laws would permit.; the sentence of the law therefore was, that they should be each imprisoned for three years, and William Wilson be three times publicly whipped through the streets of Cavan on three market-days in the next three months.

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