The Armagh Guardian
December 17, 1844
Armagh, County Armagh

DARING OUTRAGE.--About half-past nine o'clock on Thursday last, two ruffians, (one of them dressed in a taglioni coat,) entered the shop of Mrs. McLoughlin, No. 2, College-street, and whilst one of them forcibly kept the door of the room where that lady was sitting, the other jumped over the counter and took up a roll of tobacco which was lying in the window, and decamped.  Mrs. McLoughlin immediately gave the alarm, and head constable Lodge, with a party of police and watchmen, were on the spot in a few minutes.  Notwithstanding the most diligent search, we regret to say, that nothing has as yet transpired that might lead to the recovery of the stolen property, or the detection of the thieves.

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LAMENTABLE AND FATAL ACCIDENT.--
On Saturday evening last, as John Geary, Esq., supervisor of excise, was on his return from Nenagh to his residence in Cloughjordan, and when arriving at the bog of Kyle, distant about two miles from the latter town, his horse became restive and backed against a large hole, into which both Mr. Geary and the animal were precipitated.  In the course of a short time the horse and gig were extricated, but the unfortunate gentleman was taken up a lifeless corpse.  An inquest was held on Sunday, by James Carroll, Esq., coroner, and a verdict accordingly was returned. Mr. Geary, we learn, had but a short time previously received a higher appointment in the excise, and was to have left Cloughjordan in the course of a few days to be located in Belfast. He has left a wife and large family to mourn his melancholy and untimely end.--Nenagh Guardian.

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SERIOUS ACCIDENT.--
On Monday night last, as Mr. John Crothers, of Blackwatertown, was returning home from this city, his horse shied and unseated him, dragging him a considerable distance.  Mr. Crothers still continues dangerously ill.

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MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT AND LOSS OF LIFE.--
On Tuesday evening last, the 10th inst., Thomas Bennett, of Corgous, and Andrew McCutcheon, of Corlust, were drinking in a public house in the village of Scowa.  The night being very dark when they came out of the house, they both walked into the canal and were drowned.  An inquest was held on the bodies before Dr. Tyrrell, coroner for the county Down, and a verdict was returned accordingly.  Neither of them were tipsy when last seen alive.

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IMPORTANT TO CATTLE-KEEPERS.--
A few days since a valuable cow the property of Mr. William Morrow, of Drumkerrin, near this city, died in consequence of being over-fed with frosted turnips, and after being turned out drinking copiously of cold water.  It is asserted, by practical farmers and veterinarians that the essential oil of turpentine in doses of two fluid ounces or a common wineglass full, adminstered in any mild fluid, acts as a specific in all such cases, and we would strongly advise all our readers who may be concerned in the management of cattle, to keep a quantity of the valuable medicine on hand, as in case of any of their cattle taking too much green food, fatal consequences might ensue before it could be procured even from the nearest druggist.

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THEFT.--
For some months past various petty thefts have been committed about Enniskillen, and up to the present the thieves have escaped detection.  Several sheep were first stolen from Robert Keys, Esq.--then a washing of fine linen from the same gentleman ; about a month ago two calves were taken off the ground of Mr. Wm. Kettyle, merchant, Enniskillen ; and on Tuesday the 3d instant, two more were taken from Mr. Robert Clegg, also of this town, merchant, off the lands of Cornagrade. They were traced to Maguiresbridge fair, where one of them was sold.  They have since been recovered, and the thieves are likely to be discovered.--Fermanagh Reporter.

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EXTRAORDINARY SWEARING AND COUNTER SWEARING AFFAIR AT CLONES.
 
Our readers may possibly recollect that at the Cavan Assizes a man named Wm. Jordan was found guilty of perjury, for having sworn that a Police-officer had killed a young man called McCaffrey at a Repeal meeting which had been held at Clones. The sentence was of course transportation, but an application to have it commuted was subsequently made in the Court of Queen's Bench.  The ground of this application was an affidavit sworn by Mr. James Thompson, of Clones, one of the jurors, to the effect that whiskey had been introduced into the Jury room, that "many of the Jurors got drunk," and that had it not been for the effects of the whiskey, in other words, because he (Mr. Thompson) was also drunk, he would not have agreed to a verdict of guilty against Jordan !  As it was, he swore that he made a paction with his fellow-jurors that the prisoner should be recommended to mercy, which arrangement was violated.
  In reply to these allegations, six of the Jury have sworn that no influence was used to induce Mr. Thompson to find Jordan guilty--that the assertion, as to the intoxicated state of the Jurors, is "false," that Mr. Thompson's allegation that it was under the influence of whiskey he agreed to the verdict, is "false and unfounded"--and that no compact, as to a recommendation to mercy, was made with Mr. Thompson.  The foreman and three of the remaining jurors swear that Mr. Thompson was perfectly sober all the time--that he freely declared his conviction as to Jordan's guilt, and that, in the room in which the verdict was agreed to, there was neither whiskey, nor any other intoxicating drink.  This is about as curious a piece of swearing and counter-swearing as has ever come before the public.  The affidavits referred to have been published in the Monaghan paper, and the whole affair is absolutely disgusting.
  The explanation about the alleged intoxication of the Jurors, is this--when it was found that the Jury were not likely to agree, Judge Barton ordered refreshments for them in a room set apart for that purpose, and amongst these refreshments was a decanter of whiskey!  It is strange that a respectable man should be anxious to swear that he was drunk on an occasion so important, and that others should be equally anxious to prove his entire sobriety.--Belfast News-Letter.

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MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.--
On Thursday night, the 5th inst. about seven o'clock, as two respectable women named Gilroy, wives of the brothers Adam and John Gilroy, were on their way home from the market of Clones (riding in a small cart drawn by an ass, about two miles distance from Clones and convenient to their home,) they were upset and pitched into a drain containing about 18 inches of water, in the presence of their husbands and were drowned.  One of the women left a family of seven children, and the other four.  The man named John is not expected to survive.  The women were interred in one grave on Saturday evening in Clones churchyard, by the light of candles and torches, after an inquest was held.--[Fermanagh Reporter].

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COUNTY TIPPERARY.
MURDER.--
It affords us the deepest pain to record another of those crying murders which have brought down on our country a notoriety so unenviable.  In this case the parties were nearly related ; an uncle was the victim, and two brothers the alleged perpetrators of the awful deed which has deprived him of life.  Britt is the name of the persons--the scene of the dreadful deed, near Inch, Borrisoleigh--the cause of quarrel was some dispute about land, or the right of passage through a green lane.  For a long time these persons had been squabbling and litigating, where they paid no attention to the truly excellent remonstrances of Mr. George Ryan, D.L., and the other magistrates of that district, who at all times advised them to settle their disputes amicably.  On Tuesday, it would appear, they all met in the Green-lane--the cause of their contention--a violent altercation commenced--blows ensued--and the uncle, overpowered, fell a sacrifice.--Tipperary Vindicator.

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CHILD BURNT TO DEATH.--
On Wednesday last a couple of the name of Nogher, who reside at Ballidonity, convenient to this town, left home early in the morning, to dig potatoes for Mr. Huddleston, who resides a mile distant, leaving in the house three children, the eldest of whom is scarcely nine years old.  During the day, the eldest one having gone out, the clothes of the younger took fire, and she was burnt to death.--Correspondent of Down Recorder.

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