DOWN, Freeman's Journal 8th April 1817


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Contributed by Mary Heaphy
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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.