1770 Inquest (not for the squeamish)

[Note added 2012,  Summation of three page report of Inquest held in 1770, difficult to decipher, this is one of the earliest Inquests in the Disreali Papers.]

Transcribed by Selina Lawlor.

Disreali Papers. 1770.

Indented to the death of James Kelly, Cooper of Castle Hill, Carlow.

The Oath of William Paxton, Barber Surgeon and Bachelor of Physic sworn before William Bunbury, Esquire, on the 2nd day of January 1771.

William Paxton of the Town of Carlow, Barber Surgeon and Bachelor of Physic. Saith that on T [?] the 25th day of December 1770 he was called to the house of James Kelly, Cooper, of Castle Street, Carlow, by William Quirke, Ale House Keeper, of Castle Street, Carlow, upon entering the house of James Kelly he found James Kelly lying dead on his bed and having externally and internally carefully examined the said deceased body found two wounds on his head made by a heavy instrument the skull was cracked open and some tissue protruded, the bed was covered with the dried blood of the deceased and he verily believes that James Kelly was killed by some person with evil intent and not having the fear of God before [ ? ]. It is the belief of William Paxton that James Kelly had been dead for some hours and that his life was lost while in sleep on his bed.

(signed) William Paxton. Barber Surgeon and Bachelor of Physic.

Witnesses called were:-

Thomas Gibbs, Shopkeeper, Bridewell Lane,

Matthew Curran, Tailor, Bridewell Lane,

Anthony Johnson, Gentleman, Castle Street,

William Quirke, Ale House Keeper, Castle Street,

Mary Kelly, Castle Street,

Ann Keatin, Castle Street,

James Sutcliff, Soldier, Carlow Barracks.

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1822, Inquest.

 Transcribed by Selina Lawlor.

Disraeli Papers. [undated, circa 1822 ? paper watermark 1817.]

At an Inquest held this day before William Fishbourne and Henry Waters, Esquires - on the Body of John McGhee a Prisoner confined in the Jail of Carlow, as a Vagrant under the Warrent of Rev. John Whitty.

Thomas McDowall, Keeper of the Jail of Carlow, being Sworn, Saith John McGhee was sick for the last six days of the Bowel Complaint and general exhaustion.

Arthur Reed M.D. being Sworn Saith that he visited John McGhee and found him in a very general bad state and extremely dirty.

We are of the opinion that John McGhee came to his Death by exhaustion. (signed) William Fishbourne, Henry Waters, Magistrates. (signed) Robert [?], Timothy Murphy, William Sackville, Pat Whelan, James Byrne, Thomas Holmes, John Leonard, Andrew [?], William Hickey, Henry Mc Cann, Peter Nowlan, Terence Wall.

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1833, Inquisition.

 Transcribed by Selina Lawlor.

D'israeli Papers.

An Inquisition taken at Tullow, Carlow the 24th day of October 1833, before Robert Doyne, Esquire, one of his Majesties Justices of the Peace for Carlow upon view of the body of Mary Byrne then and there lying dead.

 Upon the oaths of the undersigned Jurors good and lawful men of Tullow who being Sworn and charged to enquire on the part of our Sovereign Lord the King, when, where, how and after what manner the said Mary Byrne came to her death do say upon their Oath that deceased died by the visitation of God.

In witness whereof as well the aforesaid Magistrate ~~ and the jurors have to this Inquisition affixed their names the day and year aforesaid.

(signed) Robert Doyne, Justice of the Peace for Carlow.

(signed) James Lawler, Pat Kelly, Michael Timmins, John Whaley, Michael Hickey, Peter Kinsella, Patrick Bulger, Dun [ ? ] Sam Murphy, William Deering, [ ? ] Waters, Dan Whelan.

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Source: Michael Purcell c.2011