8th Mar. 1852
Armagh Assizes Thursday March 4th
In the case of Ellen, Mary and Catherine MAGUIRE indicted for the murder of a female child at Edenknappa, the court summed up and the jury returned a verdict of guilty. Sentence deferred.
Court next day –
The jury in the case of James JOHNSTON indicted for the homicide of James GALLOUGHY returned a verdict of acquittal. The court then adjourned.
Friday March 5th
His lordship, Mr. Justice BALL. The following gentlemen were empanelled as the Petit jury;
Thomas KERFORT
Robert MOORE
Henry DICKSON
James BLAIR
George HOBSON
John CARUTHERS
David GLASS
J. M’WATTERS
J. ACHESON
Christopher COOKE
Thomas SMITH
Henry HARCOURT
Paul NEAL was indicted for the wilful murder of John M’DONNELL, a labourer, on the Junction Railway, in the parish of Newry, on the 15th November last.
Sir T. STAPLES stated the case for the Crown. The charge against the prisoner was for the wilfull murder of John M’DONNELL. Both the prisoner and the deceased were working at the railway, near Newry and the last time the deceased was seen alive was in company with the prisoner. The prisoner was seen following the deceased along the banks of the Newry Canal, with a hammer which is used by the workmen on the railway. The evidence which would be submitted to them would be entirely circumstantial, no person having witnessed the murder. The body was found lying a short distance from Newry, with a frightful wound on the forehead, which might have been made by a hammer, such as the prisoner had in his possession and which he had in his hand the day of the murder. The trousers pockets of the deceased were turned inside out, so that the object of the murderer was evidently, plunder. The learned counsel proceeded briefly to repeat the facts which, would be given in evidence, and then called the following witnesses;
James M’ALISTER examined by Mr. CRAWFORD – I recollect the 6th November last, being on the canal, between a quarter and 20 minutes past 8 in the morning. It was on the Fatham line of the canal. I know what is called the Dublin Bridge. It was about 700 yards below it. I saw a man lying in the canal. He was lying on his back and partially covered with the water. Part of his right foot was out of the water. I saw a hammer near him. It was in the county Armagh that the body was lying. (The hammer was here produced and it looked a really formidable weapon.) I put a mark on it and this is the same. I gave the hammer to Constable BOND. I took the body out of the canal, with the assistance of a man of the name of Joseph RIGBY and a man of the name of WRIGHT. There was a knife, a snuff- box, two buttons and a piece of sealing-wax, on the foot-path, about 2 feet apart. It was near the body. The body was dressed in a moleskin jacket, vest and trousers. He had nothing on his head and I saw no hat nor cap near him. I gave the things I found to Sub-constable WILSON. His right hand breeches pocket was turned inside out. His clothes, in other respects, were not disturbed. I observed on the hammer found the letters “W. D.” The letters were stamped on it. The hammer was in the water. There was a house about 150 yards from the spot where the body was found – no person living in it at the time. There were vessels lying in the canal at the time. The nearest vessel was about 200 yards off the spot.
Cross-examined by Mr. Ross MOORE – It was on the Fathom road I found the body. It was on the high road leading from Newry to Carlingford and the ferry. The ferry was about 4 miles from Newry and 10 from Carlingford. It was on Sunday I found the body. I did not observe any blood on the hammer. It was near Mr. MOORE’S property. I know the Warrenpoint Railway terminus. (A map was here produced of the terminus and the scene of the murder.) I know a man of the name of Francis CONNOR. He keeps a public house. You must pass by CONNOR’S house on going over the Dublin bridge and round by the canal. The railway terminus is outside the town of Newry. You must pass over the canal and the river in going from the scene of the murder to the terminus. There is no bridge lower down than where the body was discovered. There were 3 vessels in the Albert Basin. One of them was a foreign vessel.
Joseph RIGBY sworn and examined – Remembers the morning of the 16th November last. I was with the last witness. I saw the body taken out of the canal and found 2 buttons and a piece of sealing wax on the pathway. The body was afterwards taken to the Ballybot Bridewell. I saw a wound on the right side of the head. It was a large wound, like, as if it had been given by the blow of a hammer, with blood issuing out of it. There was also another small wound on the right side of the head. I and M’ALISTER went to the Police Barrack and informed the police of the circumstance. We left 2 persons in charge of the body when we went to the barracks. I don’t know the names of the 2 men. I held WRIGHT’S hand while he stooped down to the water to lift the body out. The body was in the same position when we returned as when we left it. Sergeant BOND and Constable FRY accompanied us from the barrack to the canal.
James M’ALISTER was recalled and examined – There was a wound on the right side of the head and one on the left. There was clotted blood round the large wound. The wounds might have been inflicted by a stone or a hammer. I gave no charge to the parties I left with the body. Sergeant BOND and Head-Constable WHITLEY, and Sub-Constable WILSON came with me to the body.
Constable John BOND examined by Sir T. STAPLES -The body was taken to a waste house. I saw the body at the inquest. Margaret O’HARE saw the body. The body was clothed in a moleskin jacket, vest and trousers, with leggings, and gaiters.
Margauret O’HARE examined by Mr. CRAWFORD – I live at Knockanarny, in the county Down. It is within 4 miles of Newry. I lived with my father and mother on the 15th November. I know a man of the name of John M’DONNELL. On the 15th of November he was stopping at my father’s. He was a lodger. It was on the Saturday before his death I last saw him. He belonged to Cork. It was between 1 and 2 o’clock on Saturday I last saw deceased. I gave him his dinner. He was dressed in a fustian jacket and waistcoat, to the best of my opinion. He had a “Scotch” cap on. He left our house when he got his dinner. She never seen him after till she seen him in Newry dead. About 1⁄2 hour after he left, I went on a message to Jerrard’s Pass. I know a person of the name of Paul NEAL. (Identifies him.) I met him a little below my father’s house, at the lock-house, that day. I spoke to him. I saw him before, but had never spoken to him. I never knew what he was called until I was brought into Newry. He asked me was it with me that John M’DONNELL stopped. I answered and said that it was. I told him John M’DONNELL was gone on before him to Newry. I said he would see deceased about the Dublin bridge, at Newry, or at the corner-house there. That was the message the deceased left with me when he went out. Deceased was to meet the prisoner. I told NEAL that was the message left for him. NEAL had a stick in his hand, which appeared to be weighty looking, as I thought. It was nearly the colour of this board (pointing to the table on which she sat). The bark was off it. To the best of my opinion the stick was a yard or three-quarters long. Prisoner also carried a small parcel under his left arm. The stick was tied up in a Turkey pocket handkerchief with some few flowers in the border of it. Paul NEAL was dressed in a dark one. (A red handkerchief produced.) The handkerchief with NEAL was of the same colour. The prisoner had a pair of dark trousers on. To the best of my knowledge, he had a dark frock on. He had a black “jim crow” hat on. The crown was a low one. He had a black silk handkerchief on his neck. He was standing on the canal line when I met him. We both walked it a little way along the line towards Newry. I had some conversation with him. I told Paul NEAL that the deceased was in a sad state about the loss of his money. NEAL said it was a pity of deceased. NEAL also said that the deceased went down to his old lodging house at Poyntz pass and the prisoner, who lived
there, invited him in to a cup of tea. I said to NEAL that some of the labourers on the railway were making sport of deceased for losing his money. Paul then told me that the men said “the women” had taken it off him. I told Paul, as I walked along, that he (the deceased) could not have lost his money in our house. Paul then said, the deceased had given our house a good character. Prisoner then said to me, perhaps my brother and deceased might be in the “Pass” drinking. There were 2 public-houses at the “Pass” and I said he might go into the one house and I would go into the other, and see if they were there, so that he might be detained. This was at Jerrard’s Pass.
To a Juror – I pass by Jerrard’s Pass in going to Newry.
To Mr. CRAWFORD – I parted with the prisoner at Jerrard’s Pass. I did not see the prisoner that day. I saw him the next evening (Sunday). I saw him in my father’s house. He asked me for a drink. I could not tell what dress he had on. It was a little before the candle was lit. He asked me if “the boys” were home yet. I said not. When the deceased left the house the day before, my brother was with him, I thought these were “the boys” he referred to. I asked him where deceased was. He said he was not with him. Paul said he (the prisoner) was detained on Saturday at Goragh Wood. Goragh Wood is between Jerrard’s Pass and Newry. The prisoner said he was kept at Goragh Wood, on the repairs of the road, till after dark, and after that he “fell into” a sheeben house. He told me to tell M’DONNELL, when he came home, that he would be up in the course of 8 days. The prisoner said he could give the deceased and my brother work for a twelvemonth. I thanked him and he then left the house. I saw the deceased dead on Monday, in Newry. It was at the inquest. The dead body I saw there was the body of the deceased. The clothes on the body were the same as deceased had on when he left our house.
Cross-examined by Mr. Ross MOORE – It was only 2 fields from my father’s house I met the prisoner. It was on Friday I had the conversation with him. My brother and M’DONNELL went out together. I did not see the road he took. The deceased was not courting me. My brother came home on Saturday night. We were all in bed when he came home. My brother went away on Sunday morning to Camlough. My brother was taken to Newry by the police. My father received a summons to bring my brother and I to Newry and we came.
A number of additional witnesses were examined, after which his lordship charged the jury, who returned a verdict of acquittal.
True Bill against M’GUINNESS, for conspiring to murder M. CHAMBRE Esq.
At 1:30 o’clock, today, the Grand Jury came into court and their foreman, Sir W. VERNER, handed down a bill of indictment, charging John M’GUINNESS with having conspired, along with Francis BERRY and others, to murder Meredith CHAMBRE Esq.
After some legal argument between the counsel for the prisoner and counsel for the Crown, Judge BALL directed the bill to be received and entered in the Crown book. Previous to the rising of the court, however, the trial of all the prisoners implicated in the attack on Mr. CHAMBRE was postponed, at the instance of the Crown, till next Assizes.
Friday March 5th petit jury;
David ANSON
Charles HUGHES
Michael ANNESLEY
John DOUGLAS
Owen DEVLIN
William PAUL
William ALLEN
Benjamin MARSHALL
Alexander GIBSON
John DOBBIN
Robert KEEGAN
David IRVIN
Bryan DALLY for having had in his possession, at Cregan, it being a proclaimed district, 2 1⁄2 ounces of gunpowder, on the 12th January last. The finding of the powder in the prisoner’s house was proved by the police and it was shown for the defense, by 2 witnesses, that the powder had been got for the purpose of curing wildfire on the prisoner’s son. Not Guilty.
New Jury;
Alexander PRINGLE
John REILLY
William DUNLOP
John CALVERT
Joseph JACKSON
Andrew LAWSON
Richard LINDSAY
Nathaniel GREASON
John WATSON
Alexander HAMILTON
Charles FOSTER
John HUGHES
Michael MULHOLLAND for having had in his possession, on the 20th January last, 1⁄2 pound of gun-powder, in the parish of Killeavy, it being a proclaimed district. Head Constable M’DONNELL, proved that he met the prisoner at the Railway, about 2 miles from the Wellington Inn, on the evening of the 20th of January last; that he was out looking for the parties who shot at Mr. CHAMBRE; that he searched him and found 6 ounces of blasting powder in his possession. The defence set up was that the prisoner was working at the railway, where a great deal of blasting was carried on and that he had occasion frequently to make fuses for blasting and that he had the powder in his possession for that purpose. Evidence was produced as to character. Guilty.
Having Arms in a proclaimed District
A jury having been sworn, Francis MURPHY, a respectable young man and employed by the Grand Jury of Armagh as Collector of County Cess, was then placed on trial for having arms in his possession in Lislea, that being then a part of a proclaimed district. The case was not very important, nor the proof very damneatory. A pistol was found in the desk of his office and a gun in his house.
Mr. O’HAGAN addressed the jury stating that the young man was not the owner of the arms and had no guilty knowledge. The case for the defense was adjourned to next day at ten o’clock.
Saturday March 6th Petit Jury
Thomas OLIVER
Andrew TEMPLETON
John ROCKS
Joseph HARE
Henry MAGILL
Robert M’CANN
William MARSHALL
Acheson HARDEN
David M’CULLOUGH
Wm. WRIGHT
Patrick M’LORINAN
Samuel SCOTT
child Murder
Mary MURPHY was indicted for the murder of her female child, on the 11th Nov., at Mullabrack. Sir T. STAPLES stated the case for the prosecution and then called the following witnesses;
Margaret SHAW examined by Mr. CRAWFORD – I live at Drumgean. I know Mary MURPHY. I have known her 3 years. I lived in the house with her for a twelvemonth. She is not a married woman. We slept in the same bed. In the month of Nov. last she was in the family way. I perceived it last on the morning of the 11th. I left her in bed when I went to my sisters. I returned home at 8 or 9 o’clock that night. She was not in the family way then. She said she had taken a shivering and a throwing off about two o’clock. I left home on Wednesday the 12th, in the morning early. I left the prisoner in bed. I returned that night. The prisoner was not at home then. I do not know what time she went away. She returned on the 14th. I supposed from what I saw that she had had a child. She let me in when I came home. The door was barred. She was not in the habit of barring it when I was out. I was in James JACKSON’S on the 14th. I saw Mary MURPHY there. She came in a little after I went. She asked Mary JACKSON the reason why I left the house. I left it because she had been two nights away. I did not sleep in the house when I found the prisoner not there. I went to my brother-in-law’s, Thomas CAMPBELL’S and stopped all night. I went back and stopped in my brother-in-law’s again. On Friday I took my little things into James JACKSON’S and remained there. I slept there on Friday night. She returned to her own house about 2 o’clock on Friday. The reason I gave to Mary JACKSON for leaving was what I had seen in the house. The prisoner asked me what I had seen. I said no matter what I had seen. Mary JACKSON then asked her would she like to know the reason. She said she would. Mary JACKSON then said it was because she murdered her child on Tuesday night. The prisoner asked me did I see any signs of her murdering her child. I said I did not. I said I suspected she had had a child. I never saw a child with her. I saw her in her own house at dark on Friday. I left her in the house when I went out and saw her come out of it in the morning about 8 o’clock. I had no conversation with her on Friday. She came into James JACKSON’S on Saturday and went away after a few minutes. I did not see her again till the police had her arrested.
Cross-examined by Mr. HANCOCK – The prisoner had a child before. It died when it was about 2 years old. I have told all that passed on the occasion. I paid the prisoner for living with her. I paid the landlord for my part of the house.
To Mr. CRAWFORD – I support myself by flowering and a day’s work when I can get it.
Mary JACKSON examined by Sir Thomas STAPLES – I know Mary MURPHY. I lived 3 or 4 perches from her. I saw her on the Monday. She was in the family way. I saw her on Wednesday morning washing an old cloth before the door. Her appearance had changed then. I was two or three perches off her. I was near enough to observe her. She came into my house, between 1 and 2 o’clock on the same day. She said she was trembling of cold and sat down at the fire and warmed herself. She then went into her own house and I did not see her again until Friday. She came into my house about 2 or 3 o’clock. My husband and I were in the house and the last witness came in. The witness corroborated the evidence of the last witness, in several particulars, which it is unnecessary to repeat.
She continued – I told the prisoner she was in the family way on Monday and Tuesday and on Wednesday she was not. She said she had had two and had killed them and would kill two more before that day fortnight. She said the secret I did not know was the one I would keep best. I did not think she was serious, but I cannot tell whether she was joking or not. I said I would not keep it a secret, for I would have her taken prisoner before next day. She said she did not regard me.
Cross-examined by Mr HANCOCK – Margaret SHAW was present at the above conversation and heard what was said. My husband was also present.
Mary Ann MUNNION examined – I live at Mullabrack. I know the prisoner. I saw her on the evening of the 12th, with a little baby in her arms. I saw her on the road near Lord Gosford’s cottage. It was about 5 o’clock in the evening. She had a cloak wrapped around her and a bulk in her arms. A girl told me it was a dead child and I asked her if it was. She said it was. I asked her when it died and she said it died that day at 11 o’clock, in her arms. I asked her if she had got a husband or where the father was? She said she was a married woman but did not know where her husband was. She said she came from Gilford mill, where she had been looking for him. She went with me to my own house. I left her sitting on the road and went to my own house. She came into my house the same night about 6 o’clock, seeking lodging. After she had sat down, she took the child out and laid it on a table. She stayed with me all night and the child lay on the table. She took it away the next morning, saying she would go and see if some person would give anything towards helping to bury it. She returned in about an hour and said she had got nothing. She had the same bundle with her, apparently, as she took it away with her. She remained only a few minutes and went away. I saw her again after dark. She came in and said she had got the child buried in Mullabrack Churchyard. I saw the child’s face. It was red and its mouth was nicely closed up. Its nose was a little flattened – apparently pressed down. I thought the closing of its mouth was the cause of flattening the nose.
Cross-examined -The prisoner made no difficulty to let me or any one who came in, see the child.
John M’STAY examined – I am sexton of Mullabrack. I recollect Mary MURPHY coming to get a child buried on the 13th November. She brought the child with her. It was in a little coffin. I buried the child. She said the child had died in her arms in convulsions.
Robert HASTINGS constable, examined – l was present shortly after the prisoner was arrested, on the 15th November. She was told by the head constable she was arrested for either concealing the birth of, or making away with her child. She said it was her good neighbours had “riz that upon her.” She said she would make them all liars.
Dr. Joseph LYNN examined – I was present at the inquest. I examined the body of the child. It appeared to be a well-grown child. Its face and neck were preternaturally red. On the right side of the neck, about an inch below the ear, there was a mark of a contusion and on the nose another. I then opened the body. The organs of the abdomen were healthy. In the stomach there was a small quantity of frothy blood. The lungs floated in water. In my opinion the child was born alive and did not die a natural death. I think the redness was caused by blood being injected with violence into the vessels. The mark behind the ear had very much the appearance of being caused by the thumb. I think the hand being pressed on the nose to prevent breathing would account for the appearance
there.
Cross-examined – Dying of convulsions would have the effect of injecting blood to the vessels and would cause a redness of the face. The redness of the face would not, however, in that case, remain.
Mr. HANCOCK addresses the jury for the defence, relying on the insufficiency of the evidence to warrant a conviction. Judge BALL then proceeded to charge the jury, who, after some time, returned a verdict of acquittal. (Belfast Newsletter)
9 Jan. 1857 A Man Drowned
An inquest was held at Cortynan, (Tynan Parish, Co. Armagh) on Saturday last, by Arthur R. KAY Esq. coroner, on the body of Robert WATSON, who was drowned in the canal near that place, on the preceding Thursday. It appeared that deceased who was a pensioner and had served in Waterloo, had been in Caledon on the day of his death and was seen by a woman of the name of HUGHES, walking before her on her way home along the bank of the canal; she kept him in sight till he came to place where there is a curve in the bank at Lemnagore and deceased had no sooner turned round this curve than she heard a sudden plump into the water. Mrs. HUGHES dreading that an accident had occurred to deceased, immediately ran to this place and there found him struggling in the water; she instantly threw her cloak to him but he was unable to catch it and he soon sunk, to rise no more. The jury found that deceased was accidentally drowned. (Armagh Guardian)
Manslaughter
An inquest was afterwards held at Curryhughes, by the same coroner, on the body of Francis MOORE a boy aged 12 years, who lost his life under the following circumstances.
Deceased and some other boys, all older than himself, were out amusing themselves on “New Year’s Night” they had a pistol with them which belonged to deceased, and it appeared that some of the boys happened to drop it on the road. It was so dark at the time that they could not see it till deceased got a lamp, and found it lying in the mud. When he found it, he said that it was Jas. O’DONNELL who had hid it there, whereupon, O”DONNELL called him a liar and struck him a violent blow under the left eye, with his clenched hand, in which he must, at the time, have held some deadly weapon, for deceased died next morning, from the effects of the blow. Dr. DOBBIN made a post mortem examination and found that the wound in the eye, extended to the brain, on which he discovered some flax, or tow, which could not have got there by any other natural passages, but must have been forced in by the weapon used by O’DONNELL.
The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against O’DONNELL, who to the present is not amenable. (Armagh Guardian)
Sat. 26 Feb. 1859 – petty Sessions
Magistrates present – W. M. MILLER, T. DOBBIN and Thomas KIDD Esqrs.
Shop-lifting
Constable BOURKE brought up Mary M’CABE and Mary O’HERE on a charge of having stolen a robed dress from the shop of the Messrs. JOHNSTON, Brothers, of Market street on Monday last. It appeared from the evidence of the constable (who is one of our most active and intelligent officers) that he had been watching the prisoners closely during the greater part of the day. He had seen them a few minutes before the robbery was effected, in consultation at the door of the shop in question. He withdrew from their
sight and watched them from behind the wall of the Market house. M’CABE entered the shop and soon afterwards came out and proceeded hastily toward the Market-house, with a parcel on her arm, which she concealed with her apron The constable then made his appearance and accosted her and she let the bundle fall to her foot. He arrested her and took her to the Barrack and proceeded to Messrs. JOHNSTON’S shop. Having enquired of Robert JOHNSTON if he had lost anything that day, he immediately replied that he had lost a dress and on going to the door where it had been hanging, described it to the policeman and subsequently identified it. Robert and James JOHNSTON swore that the dress produced was their property, that it had not been sold and that it had been lost on Tuesday.
Mr MILLER (to the prisoner M’CABE) – You need not plead guilty if you like. But is it your wish to tried here or the assizes
M’CABE – Here.
Mr Miller -Then are you guilty or not ?
M’CABE – not guilty, but I’ll plead guilty
Mr MILLER – if you say so the magistrates will not dispose of the case. You must be tried at the assizes.
M’CABE – Then, I’m guilty.
Mr MILLER – Where do you come from ?
M’CABE – From County Cavan.
Mr MILLER to O’HERE – And you?
O’HERE – l belong to Newry.
Mr MILLER – Do the police know any thing of the antecedents of these people?
Constable BOURKE – They are both shop-lifters. I have frequently seen them. M’CABE has been convicted 3 times, her last conviction took place at the assizes in July 1856, when she was imprisoned for picking pockets. M’CABE was sentenced to 6 months hard labour The other prisoner was discharged.
Mr DOBBIN (to M’CABE ) – you may let all your comrades know that we intend dealing sharply with them, if they come before us
KIDD – But she will not see them for some time. She is going on a visit for 6 months to gaol.
Obstruction
Constable EDGERTON charged James HOGG with having obstructed the footpath on Wednesday by drawing his cart across it. He was fined 1s and 1s costs.
Alleged assault
Peter M’KENNA summoned James BRADLEY, William DOLLY, Mary DOLLY, Biddy DOLLY and Elizabeth DOLLY for an assault with a knife and threatening his life. John CULLEN proved that none of the alleged charges had any foundation in truth and the case was dismissed.
Assault
Sarah REEVEY summoned James LEEBURN for assaulting her by striking her on the head with a wooden bucket in the potato market on Wednesday.
Mr. MILLER – I suppose you slanged him before he did that?
Witness- No I never assaulted him.
Mr. MILLER – did you not abuse him with your tongue?
Witness – Not so much as a word.
Defendant – There’s nothing of it at all, your Worship.
Mr MILLER – It’s a mere act of imagination?
Defendant – Your worship, her business is to disturb the market and when gentlemens servants come to the market for potatoes, they can’t get out of it until this woman either takes the potatoes from their baskets before their eyes, or steals them.
Witnesses were examined who proved that the assault had been committed and defendant was fined 1s. and costs.
LEEBURN – the same people would swear anything.
Rescue
Wm. TURNER charged Robert COULTER with having prevented him removing goods which he had seized for rent due him by the defendant, by means of bludgeons, also for threatening do him injury. The case having been proved. The Court sentenced COULTER to 1 month’s imprisonment, in default of finding bail to keep the peace.
Street brawler’s
Jane HAGAN summoned Catherine HAMILL for assaulting her by spitting upon her.
Several witnesses were examined who were unable to prove the charge complained of in the summons. They could prove, however, that an interchange of compliments, somewhat sinister in their character, had taken place between the litigants in Abbey Lane. Ill names were called by both the parties and language used, such as John GAGGAN, a man of some 70 years, had never heard ‘equalled for foulness and scurrility’. Incontinency seemed the grand charge made by the defendant against the complainant – a charge which she denied turning it against her antagonist.
Mr MILLER (to GAGGAN) – You’re a person of considerable experience?
GAGGAN – Well, yes, your honour.
Mr MILLER – And you never heard anything so bad as the language of these unhappy people
GAGGAN – No never.
Mr MILLER – Well, the case is dismissed.
Drunkenness
Head-Constable ST. GEORGE brought John CAPPAGH for being drunk in Calan street on Sunday morning at 1 o’clock. The defendant pleaded guilty and was fined 2s 6d. and costs.
The same person preferred a charge against James ROCKS for a similar offence. The defendant denied the charge. He said – I was not drunk. I have witnesses. He has summoned the wrong man.
Mr MILLER (to the Head-Constable) – He says you’re mistaken.
Head-Constable – I am not mistaken. I know the man well and turned him out of a bawdy-house at the time.
Defendant admitted having been in the house referred to.
He was fined 4s. and costs.
Matilda MALLON and Bessy MULHOLLAND were charged with riot and obstruction in Callen street on the same night. The Head-constable said the houses which these women lived were receptacles for all the thieves and pickpockets of the city and neighbourhood – sink holes of depravity and seminaries of vice, which were a disgrace to any community and it was out of the power of the police to mitigate the nuisance, though complaints were constantly being conveyed to the police office by the respectable people living in the neighbourhood. From these dens of immorality, squalor, and
wretchedness, they turned out the married and single in equal numbers and when they were turned out they raised rows in the streets and disturbed the peace of the inhabitants. The defendants were sentenced to 2 months imprisonment, in default of finding bail 2 securities of 5£ each that they would keep the peace for that period.
Constable BOURKE charged Jane M’ILVANNY with being drunk and disturbing the peace in Cullen street, on the 16th.
Mr MILLER – ls this another such of those who were charged in the previous case ?
Witness – yes, sir.
Mr MILLER – Has she often been here before ?
Witness – I don’t think she has.
Constable M’GOULRICK – Your Worship, she has not been long enough in town yet (laughter).
The court sentenced her to pay a fine of 4s and 1s costs, or to be imprisoned for 48 hours. (Ulster Gazette)
Transcribed and compiled by Teena