Newspaper: Abstracts with mention of Limerick, 1832 *********************************************** Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives Limerick Index Copyright ************************************************ File contributed by: C.L. ABSTRACTS WITH MENTION OF LIMERICK, 1832 The Times; London, Middlesex, England January 17, 1832 A scene of barbarity occurred on Saturday on the lands of Knockrus, county Limerick. Three brothers named Power, went to a neighbouring farm to get possession of some land which was willed by their deceased brother to his children. On entering the land they were opposed by a man named Nash, who it seems has married the widow of their elder brother. A conflict arose in which Thomas Power was dreadfully wounded by a pitchfork in the side, which entered his chest and wounded the lungs. John Power had his skull fractured by a blow of a stone; Maurice Power was stabbed in many parts of the body with a sharp instrument. The three brothers are under the care of a surgeon, who entertains little hopes of recovery of two of them. The principals in this horrid outrage are committed fully for trial at the ensuing assizes.—Limerick Evening Post. --------------------- January 18, 1832 On Wednesday morning a cruel and diabolical murder was committed in Templemore. The victim was a young man named Short, apprentice to a brazier in that town of the name of Gunning. While on business he was way-laid and murdered within a quarter of a mile of Templemore. His body was found soon after on the public road, and a deep wound over his temple. Same day James Cormick and Mrs. Gunning were apprehended on suspicion of being concerned in the murder, and on Thursday an inquest was held on the body, when it appeared that the evening before the murder Cormick was heard to say he would take Short's life, and that Mrs. Gunning had requested another apprentice of her husband to fill a large stick with 3lb of molten lead, the instrument with which it is supposed the fatal deed was affected - that Cormick slept with the apprentice, and rose early in the morning, was absent for some time, and returned to bed again. The jury found a verdict of willful murder against Mrs. Gunning and Cormick, who were sent off yesterday morning to Clonmel gaol, under an escort of the 74th Regiment.—Limerick Chronicle. --------------------- January 31, 1832 In the county of Limerick the old feuds between rack and landlord and starving tenant are revising and “Captain Right” is posting notices there, warning inhuman agents and middlemen to expect to share the fate of others who have been murdered for neglecting to attend to the advice of the “Rightboys.” This county, more than all others, has been characterized, of late years, by feelings of hostility between landlord and tenant, and the victims immolated to both interests have been numerous. The notices threaten a renewal of these frightful scenes. It is to be remarked that the peasantry of this county are always more ready to strike than to write. The following is a copy of a notice taken down from a house belonging to Laurence Marshall, Esq., of Tomaline, near Doon, county of Limerick, by a constable under the command of Lieutenant Brady. It was addressed to Mr. Marshall, “from the county Tipperary Right-boys.” “Sir,- We are surprisingly astonished at the cruel proceedings you have taken of late, as we can hear. Your forefathers we knew well to be always humane and charitable gentlemen. Imitate those you descend from, - indulge your tenants, - show them justice in their dealings with you,- allow them their rights, - don't give credit to bad advisers, otherwise we'll come to visit you if you don't change immediately from the way you have, and serve you like we served Baker Ormsby, Wheeler, &c. Let this be your first and last notice. Given under our hands this 12th day of January, 1832.” --------------------- March 12, 1832 TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir. - On the morning of the 7th ult., Daniel Barber died on board the Felicity, of Limerick, lying off the Hermitage tier, of the disease which is now epidemically prevailing. The Central Board of Health, probably from the case not suiting their purpose, have attempted to disprove, or throw doubts on, the evidence with which they were then furnished. A few cases have, since that time, come under my observation, two of which have been reported by those in connection with the Board as cholera. Whether it is Asiatic or English cholera, it is a peculiar and a rapidly fatal disease, unless speedily arrested; but reasonable doubts may be entertained of the advantages to be derived to the patients, or to the practitioners, from the restrictions with which they have of late been fettered. In no instance which I have seen has there been any appearance of it occurring from contagion. The slavish fear excited by believing it is possible to be so produced, is in my opinion likely to lead to the loss of many a life. In proof of the correctness of my views, I may here state, that when an unfortunate seaman is taken ill, nobody will venture to admit him as a lodger; on board, no opportunity can be afforded of doing him justice, and if sent to the cholera-ship, he must be rowed as far as Limehouse down the river, perhaps amidst rain and darkness or against the tide. The situation in which the medical practitioner may be placed, the following occurrence will serve to illustrate - A captain was brought ashore from the Hermitage tier, to be taken to an establishment in wapping for the reception of cholera patients. After it was thought that all was ready, it was found his vessel was lying opposite to another parish. The consequence of this discovery was, the unfortunate man was left on the river side, and might have perished but for the humanity of his surgeon, who, no other immediate resource being left, took him to his own residence, and placed him on his own bed. I have since seen the patient twice, and he is likely to recover. The Board seemed at a loss how to account for the appearance of the first case. Although they merit but little kindness at my hands, let me, through the medium of your valuable columns, direct attention to the fact that the vessels laden with manure frequently repair to the tiers; and that they are in the habit of taking in their cargoes near Rotherhithe, on the south side of the river. May not the evil be traced to this source, - both at the Hermitage and at Rotherhithe, - in place of ascribing it to the man employed in scraping a ship's bottom. The vessel on board of which my patient died on Monday, contained several tons of manure; and the place where he was sleeping was damp with its exhalations. The vessel, from which the captain was brought ashore, was represented to have emitted most offensive effluvia. Let the Board of Health look into these matters and they will be better employed than in distorting facts, to frighten the public into a belief in cholera contagion. I am, Sir, you most obedient servant, 14. Burr-street, March 7. ROBERT BOWIE, Surgeon. --------------------- July 27, 1832 In the county Limerick the Rev. Mr. Coote is at open war with his parishioners, who have not forgotten the formidable train of flying artillery, lancers, police, &c., introduced into the parish in his last tithe visitation. At the great meeting at Cullen, the proceedings of which were prevented on the 11th instant, the peasantry determined to mark their sense of military interference by adopting the non-laboring system of Kildare towards the tithe partisans, and particularly to the rev. principals, amongst whom Mr. Coote was entitled to special attention. Accordingly, the next day all his labourers “struck,” his meadows remained uncut, and his potatoes undug, and his turf in the bog. However, in the course of the next week (on Tuesday, the 17th), he contrived to obtain the assistance of between 60 and 70 men, tenants of the adjoining estate of the Earl of Stradbroke, to cut his turf in one day (after the fashion of an American frolic). Those neighbours worked away merrily till about 5 in the evening, when the bog was approached by about 2,000 of the parson's parishioners, shouting most fearfully. The extern frolickers found that this was no joke, and ran with the rev. gentleman, and some of his friends who had been looking on, to the glebe house as fast as their legs could carry them. Six policemen, whom the parson retains as body-guard, ran as fast as the rest, pursued off the bog to the very grounds of the glebe. Next day, some turf-cutters from a distance (not exactly aware of the extent of their danger) wished to negotiated for their services; but the rev. gentleman humanely refused to employ them. However, the news of their arrival spread, and by evening about 800 men marched to the bog as before, and the strangers seeing how matters stood, quietly returned home, leaving the rev. gentleman to settle the question with his parishioners in his own way. --------------------- August 18, 1832 LIMERICK PETTY SESSIONS, SATURDAY A LIMERICK BASS The first charge investigated was one of assault, in which Mr. DeCourcey, the butter inspector, was plaintiff and a young lady named Kiely, a niece of Mrs. Sheehy, of Roche's -street, innkeeper, was defendant. Mr. DeCourcey stated the nature of his complaint in a few words. He had been, he said, on a country excursion at Peafield, near Ballysimon, the summer residence of Mrs. Sheehy, on Thursday last, and had there met Miss Kiely, who resided with her aunt, and in whose company he was to have dined. It so occurred, however, that a dispute arose between the young lady and himself before dinner, and her conduct on the occasion obliged him to now bring her before the bench to answer for it. She had, in fact, taken a wine glass from off the table, and had struck him with it over the nose, cutting it severely, and swelling up all the neighbouring parts, particularly his cheeks and upper lip, and in a dreadful manner by the blow. Every eye was here riveted on the young lady, whose appearance, contrary to the impression produced on our minds by Mr. DeCourcey's charge, indicated the gentlest feminine deportment and modest and retiring manners. She is of a delicate and slender form and very prepossessing, if not very handsome - in a lover's eye she would certainly appear both. Her defence, as was given in evidence, was as follows - Some time before dinner hour, Mr. DeCourcey and his friends arrived at her aunt's house, in which there is but one room not used as a bedchamber, apart from that in which meals are usually served up. In this room Miss Kiely and a young female acquaintance of hers were preparing to receive their visitors. The former was undressed, and the latter was assisting her equipment by lacing her stays. This was the interesting situation of the ladies when Mr. DeCourcey, who was not known to have arrived, like another Gilbert Glossen, burst into the room. Instead of retiring on the instant, he boldly maintained his footing, and seemed as fixed to the spot as the Apollo Belvedere upon his pedestal. There he stood, immoveable, despite of all remonstrance, like the pestilent visitor from whose bad influence the affrighted world now seeks to be disengaged. There are few men, we think, of ordinary feelings, who would have been proof against the expostulations of two young girls in such a distressing situation, and undaunted by the rebuke of even their eyes. As it was, the complainant used very coarse expressions, because the ladies did not leave the apartment immediately upon entering it, forgetting that the flight of ladies is not always practicable when they are in their dishabille, and wholly regardless of what decorum must have suggested to himself. But Miss Kiely heroically asserted the dignity of her sex, as we are about to show. When dinner was announced, the young lady was, of course, invited to sit down; but she declined. She was again invited, but declined again. On being entreated a third time to sit down, she said, “I cannot sit in the company of so iniquitous a fellow (meaning Mr. DeCourcey), I cannot stoop to such society; “ sentiments which drew from the complainant a retort in the following words - “D__m you' It is the likes of you who would say so two sods of a keerawan.” We confess we are not yet so provincialized as to understand what the latter branch of this sentence means. We never heard it before, and are ashamed to write it down. But we, who perform the humble office of reporters, are sometimes reduced to the condition of the maitre des basses aeuvres, who has commonly dirty work to do, without always finding gold. Miss Kiely was highly incensed by the expression just noted, and though simply the niece of an innkeeper, she was animated with the true spirit of a virtuous woman notwithstanding. She ran to the dinner table, seized a wine-glass, and flung it in the face of Mr. DeCourcey, from whose wounded nose the blood flowed copiously. But we must describe Mr. DeCourcey's nose. Mr. DeCourcey's nose is Grecian, or, speaking in more modern phrase, of the Wellington character. It is very large, and forms a high angular point at its junction with the forehead, causing a rather abrupt declivity towards the cavernous orifices below. There is nothing about it of a graceful declination, such as is described between the plane and the prime vertical circle - nothing of the easy and natural slope to either end from the center part, as in the structure of the Athlunkard bridge. It is quite a perpendicular nose, and any one falling form the top of it would be sure to be killed. The blood having ceased to issue forth, dark purulent matter had formed around it, and it looked for all the world like the crater of Vesuvius, with lava resting on its bosom after the flames subside. The Magistrates, after a consultation of a few minutes, fined the young lady 2s. 6d. and awarded the costs of the suit against her. Mr. Barry - You can take the full value of your nose out of that, Mr. DeCourcey. (Laughter). Miss Kiely was then handed out of court. - Limerick Herald. --------------------- October 18, 1832 We have received an express which left Limerick yesterday evening. The pending trials of the traversers upon the tithe prosecutions kept alive the most intense anxiety in that city. The Crown, it is said, offered to pass a nom nal sentence if the traversers would plead guilty. This evinced either an honourable sense of the injustice of punishment under the circumstances on the part of the prosecutors, or that conviction was doubtful. The traversers spurned the proffered compromise. The names of the traversers who had Colonel Cossett [or Gossett] served are, Messrs. John Reedy, Patrick Carey, Richard O'Shaughnessy, I D C Mahony, Daniel Fitzgerald, John Hasset, John Dowling, and Richard Maume. The bills were before the grand jury, and had not been found at the departure of our communication.