DOWN, Freeman's Journal 8th April 1817 *********************************************** Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives Down Index Copyright ************************************************ Contributed by Mary Heaphy _________________________ FREEMAN' JOURNAL APRIL 8TH 1817 Newry April 5th. The office houses of a man named McKenna, who resides in the neighbouring of Ball's Mill, was last night set on fire and consumed-7 head of cattle were in the houses, part of which belonged to two neighbouring men. No reason can be assigned, except that it was reported McKenna had taken corn acres in the neighbourhood of Greggan, a method of letting land very common in the country, and never known to provoke malice before. The dwelling house was on the opposite side of the road, and of course escaped. On Monday night last, as John McNally, a respectable young man, was returning home from the market of Castlewellan, to his house in Newcastle, he was murdered on the high road in Drumcree, by strangling. An inquest was held by Mr. Caddell, the coroner, who committed to gaol, a man of the name of Patrick Morgan, on strong suspicion. On Sunday morning the 30th March at 6 O'Clock, the walled park of Mrs Corry of this town, was broken into, and a quantity of timber stolen, and on the following Monday, 31st of March, the same park was broken into, and four sheep, the property of Mrs. Corry, were killed and taken away. The wall that encloses this park is 14 feet high. Information having been made before Smithson Corry Esq. against a man named Bernard Magennis and John Magennis, his son, both of High Street, who were seen carrying away the timber as it as thrown over the wall, a party of constables proceeded on a search warrant, in pursuit of the timber, which they found in the house of Bernard Magennis, and took John Magennis into custody, but Bernard escaped, and has not since been heard of. In searching through the same street, within a few doors of Magennis's houses, the constables discovered in a house of a man named Edward McAnearny,a trap door, on which was laid a large chest. On descending into the cellar, they found the carcases of two sheep, which had the appearance of been recently killed, the skins were also found in this placed, one of which has been identified, as also a leather strap, which was round the neck of one of the sheep. On searching the house there were found some iron spikes about one foot long, which might have served for scaling the wall-Some rakes, pitchforks, shovels, a bottle of aquafortis, and some unbleached linen. Edward McAnearny and his son John were apprehended and were this morning transmitted to Downpatrick.