Original Rootsweb Co. Tyrone Community Site
Australian Newspaper Items re Co. Tyrone, 1848-1922
Murders in Tyrone
- 1848
Sale of Encumbered Estates
- 1851
An Irish Breach of Promise Case
- 1867
A Strange Murder -
1872
A Fatal Riot in Ireland
- 1881
Pearls in Ireland
- 1889
A Serious Fight Between Two M.P.'s - 1893
All in the
Family - 1897
Missing Friends -
1902-1954
Butter 500 Years Old
- 1905
The Romance of the Peerage - Curious Stories
and Customs concerning the Aristocracy - 1907
A Queer Bridegroom - 1911
Unclaimed Money Australian Heirs Wanted to
Claim - Money and Property during 1912
Murders at Tyrone - Police Patrol Ambushed
- 1922
Balmain Observer and Western Suburbs Advertiser (NSW : 1884 - 1907)
Saturday 23 February 1889
Pearls in Ireland
Pearls have been discovered, it is just announced, in several of the
Irish rivers, and a gentleman who is chairman of the Omagh Town
Commissioners has arrived in London within the past day or two,
bringing with him a packet of the gems, which have been found in fresh
water mussels of county Tyrone. Some of these pearls are said to be of
a fat. size, measuring over a quarter of an inch in diameter, while
others range downward to the size of a gun-shot. They are asserted,
moreover, to be of fine quality, and to abound in the stretches of
water where the pearl bearing mussels have now been discovered.
Saturday 25 March 1905
BUTTER 500 YEARS OLD
In the museum of the Belfast Public Library there is exhibited a keg
of butter that has discovered buried in the bog of Ballinderry,
Country Tyrone. The butter is believed to have lain in the bog for 500
years. When the keg was opened the contents tasted sweet, but soon
became rancid.
16 Nov 1907
THE ROMANCE OF THE PEERAGE.
CURIOUS STORIES AND CUSTOMS CONCERNING THE ARISTOCRACY.
True Ghost Stories
Better substantiated is the story of Earl Tyrone. In youthful days,
the earl was very intimate with a Miss Hamilton, afterwards Lady
Beresford ; and having grave religious differences, they, mutually
agreed that the first to die should appear to warn the other of the
true religion. Years later, when the lady was married and the matter
forgotten, she was startled one night by the appearance of the earl at
her bed-side. He informed her of his death, and
declared 'the revealed religion is the only one by which we can be saved."
To conquer her incredulity, he wrote his name in her pocket book,
twisted the curtains through a great ring in the ceiling, and left the
print of his hand upon the wardrobe. On the lady attempting to touch
him, he warned her that if she did so her wrist would bear the mark
for ever.
She did so, however. The earl then predicted her re-marriage, the
number of children she was to have, and her death in childbirth at the
age of 47.
At breakfast the following morning a letter arrived announcing the
earl's death. Recalling the vision the lady examined her room. There
were the signature, the fingerprint, and the twisted curtains. On her
wrist, too, was an indelible mark, which there after she kept covered
with a black ribband. She died on the exact date as foretold, and all
else was fulfilled. ' Lady Betty Cobbe,' her granddaughter, was
possessed of the black ribband and the famous pocket-book, and
throughout a very long life swore to the entire truth of the story.
Bathurst Advocate (NSW : 1848 - 1849)
Saturday 6 May 1848
Murders in Tyrone.
We have just this moment received intelligence of three more murders,
caused by distraint, for rent, in the county of Tyrone. We have not
heard the names, and the following particulars only have been supplied
us :--
A seizure having been made for rent in the vicinity of the village of
Pomeroy, the owner resisted ; and a number of persons having
collected, whose demeanour became threatening, the bailiff fired and
killed a woman. Some of the people, who were armed with guns,
immediately discharged them, and shot, dead; the bailiff and his
assistant ! Such are all the particulars that have reached us of this
occurrence -- one which proves that the people in the North can be as
easily driven to shed blood as those in the South, when similar means
are adopted. -- Ibid.
Bathurst Free Press (NSW : 1849 - 1851
Saturday 11 January 1851
Sale of Encumbered Estates
One of the finest properties that has yet come under the operation of
the Encumbered Estates Act is now in the market, and, unless
previously disposed of by private contract, will be offered for public
sale in the month of January next. It consists of the Killymoon
estates of Colonel Stewart, situate in the county of Tyrone, and
containing 4,663 acres, yielding a rental of nearly £3 800 per annum.
Lord Gough, while on a visit to the north of Ireland, was said to be
in treaty for the property.
Bell's Life in Sydney and Sporting Chronicle (NSW : 1860 - 1870)
Saturday 6 July 1867
AN IRISH BREACH OF PROMISE CASE
At the Derry Assizes, before Mr Justice KEOGH a breach of promise case
BEATTY v. JOHNSTON has been heard. The plaintiif was a farmer's
daughter, that is, as he explained, he holds, near Newtownlimavady, 26
acres of ground in perpetuity at a rent of £4 1s. 9d. and the
defendant was " a person in easy circumstances." Damages were laid at
£1000, and the case occupied the court for a considerable time. The
defence was, that the promise was never made, or that the defendant
was drunk when he made it. For the plaintiff the chief witnesses were
her father and two brothers. One of the latter said
'My sister is about twenty-two years of age, and the defendant is
about forty. He bad been speaking to, and walking with, my sister for
about four years previous to July last. The plaintiff and defendant
became acquainted first about four years ago in Derry. On Friday, the
27th of July, the defendant came to our house. He was not drunk on
that occasion, but he was more or less under the influence of liquor.
Mr M'CAUSLAND- " Screwed." (Laughter.)
Mr DOWSE -" Very well " screwed " let it be. The word comes from an
excellent vocabulary. I hope the jury will " screw " something out of
him now," (Laughter.)
Witness- "Next day I heard him ask my father for my sister Sarah. My
father said he had no objection, but that he could not give an
equivalent with her for what he (the defendant) was worth in landed
property. The defendant replied that he did not want a fortune with my
sister, but that if my father would give her a child's part in his
will, he would be satisfied. My father said she would be made nothing
worse than that. The defendant at that time was perfectly sober. He
talked about his property in Tyrone and Derry, and said that from it
he was worth £1 5s. 4d. a day, not counting what he was worth from his
farm at Carrowreagh. The defendant and my sister then said they were
agreed to get married, and he said the marriage would be arranged in a
few days. The defendant then went away. He returned on Sunday, the 5th
of August, and stopped all night. He drank some on Sunday. On the
following day he went with me and my sister to Newtown limavady market
in a cart, and came home with us in the evening, and stopped all
night. He was under the influence of liquor. On Tuesday he was
perfectly sober, and renewed the conversation about Sarah. My father
remonstrated with him on his intemperate habits and past
transgressions (laughter ) and he promised that he would be a good boy
for the future. He said that in getting Sarah he would get a good,
wise girl, and that she would have a good effect upon him (laughter).
The marriage was then arranged to take place on the following Thursday
week. The defendant then asked me to go for the license. When I got
home again JOHNSTONE was gone . (laughter.) I met him about a month
afterwards in Newtownlimavady market, and I asked him what he intended
doing about the marriage, and he replied that he had no recollection
whatever of it (laughter).
To Mr MEHAN- "He left his hat, necktie, and shirt-collar behind him
(laughter). Sally had possession of them (laughter). The defendant was
not constantly drunk. I consider a man is drunk, when he cannot talk
right, walk right, or act right (laughter).
The defendant here rose in the court and spoke in a threatening manner
to the witness.
The Judge ordered him out of court.
Witness- "The defendant, so far as I saw, never drank any whisky in my
father's house."
Thomas RUSSELL deposed that he was with the defendant when he went to
the plaintiff's house on Sunday, the 5th August. The defendant was
both drunk and mad, and Miss BEATTY took him down to the room and kept
him there, and witness had to go home without him.
Mr DOWSE - "what do you mean by saying JOHNSTONE was both drunk and
mad ? Bletherin, I suppose? " (Laughter)
Witness- "Yes."
Mr DOWSE - "Are you married ? Did anything ever happen to yourself
about a young lady ?"
Witness - "Seduction or abduction, I don't care which." (Laughter.) "
I was sentenced to be transported, but I got oft' for two years'
imprisonment. That happened twenty-five years ago."
Mr DOWSE - " In fact, you ran away with a girl ? "
Witness - " No; she ran away with me." (Loud laughter.) " I met
JOHNSTONE at the train after that Sunday the day he was going to
Tyrone, and he told me he was nearly trapped by the BEATTY's."
(Laughter.)
The jury found for the plaintiff - £385 damages, and 6d. costs.
Bell's Life in Sydney and Sporting Chronicle (NSW : 1860 - 1870)
Wednesday 2 October 1872
A STRANGE MURDER
In the history of modern crime, the Newtown Stewart murder will oocupy
a prominent place. The victim was a banker living in a county town in
the north of Ireland.The foul deed was accomplished in the bank itself
a few minutes after the close of business--that is, at about a quarter
past 3 on a summer afternoon.
The bank situated in the principal street,of a rising town, and there
were, servants in the house at the time. The murderer made ' assurance
double sure,' for the dead man had no fewer than twelve wounds on his
head, and in addition an office files had been driven by force through
one of his ears into his brain. It was evident that the assassin knew
the ground and the situation. The town was on that day deserted by a
large number customary police force drafted off to a neighbouring fair
; one of the principal clerks was as usual away for the day and just
after the closing of the bank, the che_f of the establishment was
likely to be alone, and probably engaged in counting money. It appears
that it is not the custom for Irish branch banks to have any record of
the numbers of their notes -- a very strong inducement to robbery or
theft -- so strong that we cannot understand the absence of the
precaution. Some days after, a bundle of notes to the value of £1000
was found in a neighboring wood. We have here all the traces of murder
and robbery.
In the face of these facts, obvious from the first, sub-inspector
MONTGOMERY, instead of showing himself 'active and intelligent',
adjectives that almost belong to the force ; displayed strange( _ _
centricity.(?) He went to a house to examine and search a suspected
person, but refused to knock him up, lest he should disturb him. He
suggested that death might have been suicide though the corpse had
twelve wounds, and a file had been forced through the ear. He wished
to send a message by telegraph that there were 'suspicious
circumstances', when the fact of a foul murder was clearly
established. It is now asserted by the Crown that sub-inspector
MONTGOMERY was the murderer himself .
That is the ground work of the prosecution which was concluded on
Monday at the Tyrone assizes, and which has resulted in the discharge
of the jury and the remand of the prisoner. The evidence against him
was purely circumstantial. Nobody saw him strike the blow ; no weapon
was found on him ; there was no blood on his person ; and the notes
were not traced to his hand. Considering the twelve wounds, and the
spots on the wall, the absence of all stains is very singular, if Mr.
Montgomery were the actual perpetrator of the deed. So much in his
favour.
Against him was produced a chain of suggestive evidence formed of
links, some certainly small and weak. In the first place, before he
had entered the constabulary he had been an accountant in a Belfast
bank for over seven years; so that all the rules and customs of such
(?) were familiar to him. On one occasion he remarked to one of his
own constables that it was strange no one had attempted to rob a bank,
since it could easily be done by knocking the cashier on the head. The
prosecution wished to give evidence to show that the prisoner was
pecuniarily embarrassed, but the judge properly, we think, rejected it
as irrelevant. Guilt ought to be proved without going into the point,
whether the accused was tempted to the deed by poverty ; that is an
incentive too common to be dragged into a particular case. A few
minutes after the murder must have been committed Mr. MONTGOMERY was
seen to come out of the bank door without his bat, to look up and down
the street, to return for a minute or two, and then go away. When
engaged for several hours afterwards in investigating the onset he
kept complete silence as regards his presence at the bank at or near
the very moment of the crime. Next day he went with another sub
inspector to examine the premises, and then put to him the following
question : 'If a person were seen coming out of the bank without any
blood on him, would he be convicted of murder ?' The other inspector
replied, ' I think not"
Then for the first time Mr. MONTGOMERY mentioned that he had been at
the bank shortly after 3 o'clock. It was also proved that he had been
anxiously asking whether the police had found the notes in Grange
Wood, and whether such a discovery would affect him. Evidence was
given to show that he had made enquiries as to the best draught for
causing insensibility, and as to the readiest means of knocking people
on the head with a life preserver.
The theory of the prosecution was that he had meditated the murder for
many weeks, and that his former experience and position enabled him to
plan it with ease and execute it with fiendish coolness. The peculiar
interest of this trial arises from the social and official standing of
the accused. A sub. inspector of constabulary in Ireland is a
gentleman by birth and position. He mixes on terms of equality with
the county families ; and, though his pay is not large, he is as
readily received in society as the ensign or lieutenant of a marching
regiment.
In Ireland there has been, we regret to observe, much partisanship
about the case, a painful characteristic of public opinion there, -not
now noticed for the first time.
The Herald (Fremantle, WA : 1867 - 1886)
Saturday 9 April 1881
A FATAL RIOT IN IRELAND
Last Saturday a serious riot occurred at Clogher in Tyrone. The
process of eviction was being carried out by a process-server, when a
large crowd gathered together and several rushes were made upon the
constables who were with the server. At last the police were obliged
to fire, killing two men and wounding several others.
Canowindra Star and Eugowra News (NSW : 1903 - 1907; 1910 - 1922)
Friday 30 June 1911
MATRIMONIAL COMEDY
- A QUEER BRIDEGROOM
*'A matrimonial comedy," was counsels description of a case in which a
woman has boon awarded L50 at the Tyrone Assizes.
Mrs Ellen MCCULLAGH was a widow with three children, and the
defendant, Francis McCULLAGH, was a widower with four daughters. He
was in debt and was threatened with ejectment for non payment of rent.
Under these circumstances he conceived a great admiration for the
plaintiff, and so successfully pressed his suit that they were married
in 1903. On the day before the marriage, the plaintiff advanced him L5
with which to buy his wedding suit. Not only was the defendant
destitute of a suit of wedding clothes, but he had no money to pay the
clergyman, and the plaintiff had to lend him L1 for that purpose.
After the marriage McCULLAGH and the plaintiff went to live on the
defendant's farm, and from time to time the plaintiff advanced sums of
money. In 1904 she ceased this, however, and McCULLAGH began to ll use
her. In February 1904 (?) she left him, but the defendant having
apologised the plaintiff returned and the borrowing process was
resumed. The wife had lent McCULLAGH L100 but as she had taken away
two cows the total claim was forL76 6s
In the course of the cross-examination the plaintiff was asked: 'Don't
you remember when in the marriage service you said. ''With all my
worldly goods I thee endow," you said to yourself, "There goes my
.suit of clothes?"
--No. I didn't think that at all.
Wasn't his intention that you would pay his debts and after that you
would both lively happily?
--No, and we didn't live happily.
And you left him. but returned like an Israelite of old, with all your
cattle with you?
--Yes.
The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff for L50 8s
"Daily Mail."
And you left him. but returned like an Israelite of old, with all your
cattle with you?--Yes.
The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff for L50 8s.--
"Daily mail."
The Inquirer & Commercial News (Perth, WA : 1855 - 1901
Saturday 28 January 1893
A SERIOUS FIGHT BETWEEN TWO M.P.'s
Yesterday a great fight took place between Mr, MAHONEY, formerly the
Parnellite representative for North Meath, and Mr. KENNY the
M'Carthyite member for Mid-Tyrone. During the course of several
exciting rounds Mr. KENNY had several of his teeth knocked out, while
his nose was smashed and his eyes were blackened. The police have
arrested Mr. MAHONEY, but the mob threatened to release him by
violence. [Later.] Mr. MAHONEY has been committed for trial for his
assault upon Mr. KENNY.
The Inquirer & Commercial News (Perth, WA : 1855 - 1901)
Friday 11 June 1897 Next issue
' All in the Family'
A report of the Irish Local Government Board records that at a farm
in county Tyrone (Ireland) a horse had for years been stabled at the
foot of the bed in the sleeping room, and two cows occupied the living
apartment of the family.
Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916)
Tuesday 31 December 1912
Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916) Tuesday 12 January 1915 p 16
Article
UNCLAIMED MONEY AUSTRALIAN HEIRS WANTED
TO CLAIM. MONEY AND PROPERTY DURING 1912
To the Editor. Sir,,
Scattered through out Australia and New Zealand there are thousands of
families who are entitled to funds in chancery. monies and properties
the existence of which they have no knowledge. Many of these are the
descendants of people who emigrated to Australia and New Zealand in
their early days, and lost all touch with their relations and kindred.
Some of the latter amassed money in the land of their birth, whilst
others emigrated to Canada and the United States and died there
intestate, leaving substantial fortunes. Every year a large number of
advertisements appear in Australian. New Zealand, and British
newspapers inserted by solicitors, trustees. executors, and the order
of the Court of Chancery in respect of beneficiaries , next of kin,
etc., sought for to claim money and property. who. of ,or whose
descendants or representatives, are supposed to be resident in
Australia or New Zealand, and a selection from the principal of these
advertisements which have appeared during the year 1912, may interest,
and be of possible benefit to your large circle of readers:
the next of kin of John NORRIS, formerly of co. Tyrone ; Sarah NORRIS;
Bernard McNAMEE, born Co.; Tyrone, and who emigrated to Australia in
1820 or his representatives : ;
Should any of your readers think themselves interested in the above
matters, I will be pleased to give them any further information I
possess on application to me, or through your journal. I am, etc.,
THOS. W. LLOYD, Lloyd's Next of Kin and Unclaimed Money Offices,
Melbourne.
The Following are posting under "
MISSING FRIENDS"
from the Sunday
Times (Perth, WA : 1902 - 1954) various dates
11 March 1917 CLARKE- News wanted of Miss Ann who left Dungannon Co
Tyrone Ireland 50 years ago for Australia. Last heard of in melbourne,
said to be married to an artist (name not known)
5 December 1915 CONLON (Mary and Margaret), born in the townland of
Kinnego. Killyman parish, Co Tyrone, Ireland; emigrated to Australia
in 1858; may have gone to New Zealand.
21 September 1913 COOPER, nee O'NEIL (Jane), who left county Tyrone in
1883 and went to Roebourne; left there four years afterwards with Mrs.
FREAZIEAL for Sydney; married man named Cooper; working Anthony
Horderns.
3 August 1919 LEMON (James), who left Tyrone, Ireland, about 40 years,
and was last heard of from Melbourne.
4 November 1917 McCLEAN (Mary), a teacher, formerly of Dungannon,
County Tyrone, Ireland, who went to New Zealand in the eighties.
14 May 1905 McDAVITT (Mary Ann) who left County Tyrone, Ireland,
between forty and fifty years ago for America or Australia.
20 May 1906 McLOUGHLlN - (James), and his wife, Mary, natives of
Cookstown, Tyrone, Ireland, who left, Barrow-in-Furness in 1878. Last
heard of in Ban-bury, near Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.
25 June 1905 McNALLY (Patrick), native of Cloughfinn, Six Mile Cross
P.O. County of Tyrone. Last heard from eight years ago. Then with a
gentleman in the vicinity of Melbourne
13 November 1927 McSHANE Francis , a native of County Tyrone, Ireland,
known to have been in Stanmore, Sydney, Australia, in 1886. He was a
Joiner by trade, and had four sons,. James, Francis, William, and
Peter, respectively.
31 October 1920 MATHEWSON (Thomas), who left Dunbunraver near Newtown
stewart, Co. Tyrone, ireland, for Australla, over 40 years ago; -
supposed to be sheep' farming
3 August 1913 O'NEILL (Patrick) who left Co. Tyrone. Ireland, for
Australia; also his sister (Jane), supposed to be in Sydney;
Australia.
7 June 1914 QUINN (Dennis), or any of his family last heard of in
Sydney where he gained the first prize for wheat growing about 1884, a
native of Co. Tyrone, Ireland, was in Ireland about 26 years ago.
The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1950)
Monday 27 March 1922
MURDERS AT TYRONE
- POLICE PATROL AMBUSHED
Three murders occurred at tyrone to day, the victims being Roman
Catholics. Presumably they are reprisals for the murder of loyalists.
The police patrol of 50 was ambushed near Pomeroy. The fighting lasted
for six hours. Several of the patrol were wounded aud one was
captured. William CAMPBELL a city corporation inspector at Belfast,
was shot dead in the street.
