IRELAND OLD NEWS

Freeman's Journal
05 September 1797

'DUNDALK ASSIZES
Thursday Aug. 31.
This day was nearly concluded the business of the town. The Attorney General came into Court and expressed his intention, which was, that no bill should be sent up against the several persons charged with treason and treasonable practices, and committed by Mr. Gattigar, of Dundalk, amongst whom were Hugh Reilly, Mr. James Kelly, Mr. Gossin, post-master of Fleury-bridge, Mr. Dowdall, Mr. Smyth, Mr. Derry, late Usher at Mr. Tindall's school, and Mr. Maurety of this place. They had petitioned for their trial on the first day of the assizes, and had brought down Mr. Curram specially from Dublin, and retained Mr. Ball, Mr. Clelland, Mr. Sampson, and Mr. Chanlon; they are yet held to bail and bound to come forward at the ensuing assizes.
The only cause of importance or curiosity now remaining is the trial of Mrs. Elizabeth M'Gan, for persuading a soldier to become a United Irishman.'

September 1

'This day the assizes concluded. The trial of the lady for seducing the soldier to become an United Irishman - did not go on.'



Freeman's Journal
12 September 1797

'At the Dundalk assizes, which terminated on the first of September, John M'Garrity was found guilty of horse-stealing, and ordered to be executed on the 6th of November next. It was intended to recommend him an object of mercy, on condition of his going abroad.
Several other persons were tried for various offences and the trials of some were deferred to a future day, who were admitted to bail.'


Freeman's Journal
16 September 1797

'DUNDALK ASSIZES
Ended on Friday, the 1st of September, when the following persons were tried and found guilty: John M'Garrity, for horse stealing, to be hanged on the 6th of November next, the intention being to recommend him for mercy on condition of serving abroad.
James Corran, for assaulting a Revenue officer and a constable, to be imprisoned for a fortnight and give security for his future good behaviour; the sentence was made so small on account of the traverser having been in custody for five months before his trial.
Owen M'Garrity, Christopher Keeran, and Pat. Lennon, for an assault at the fair of Mullacrew, to be confined a month.
James Keeran, for the same offence, to be imprisoned three months and fined forty shillings: this increase in his sentence beyond the others arose from his having produced on his defence three perjured witnesses.
Thomas Reynolds, for stopping and seizing a man on the highway, asking him was he up, and detaining him for half an hour, was not withstanding an able defence made by Counsellor Curran, convicted, and ordered to be imprisoned one month and to give security of the peace for seven years; it appearing by prisoner's affidavit that he was poor, no fine was set on him.
James Naynor, a journeyman shoemaker, for combination, to be imprisoned six months.

The following persons were acquitted:

Patrick Byrne, and Bryan Duff, for murder; Felemy Hinchy, for the murder of his own bastard child; Peter Carroll, for burglary and felony; Arthur M'Cooey, and Silvester Mathews, for riots; Peter Callan, and John Gallagher, for stealing yarn; M. M'Daniel, for combination; Daniel Laverty, a soldier in the Londonderry militia for the murder of Christopher Grant. It appeared in evidence that the soldier having a prisoner in custody, conveying him to justice, he was attacked by the deceased, who threw several stones at him from behind a ditch, one of which stones cut the soldier desperately on the head, upon which he pursued, and upon coming up to deceased stabbed him with a bayonet; Peter Fitzpatrick, for Grand Larceny.

The following trials were postponed:

Francis Donnelly for administering oaths; Nicholas Carroll, William Timmons, and John Maguire, for murder; John Mullan, for endeavouring to seduce a soldier from his allegiance; Bernard Dowdall, Hugh Reilly, Nicholas Gossan, Pat Dowdall, Edward Reilly, James Kelly, Bryan Smith, Joseph Mourity, Valentine Derry, Hugh Hagan: - These persons had been for some time on a charge of High Treason, and the Attorney Gen. having informed the Court, that he did not mean to prefer any bill of indictment against them at this assizes and that he consented to their being bailed; they were accordingly discharged on giving security to appear at next Assizes.'


Submitted by Brendan

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