News: Compendium of Crime, Nenagh Guardian 1838-1839 Part 4

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Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives
Tipperary Index
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File contributed by: Mary Heaphy

COMPENDIUM OF CRIME, NENAGH GUARDIAN 1838-1839 PART 4

  A Compendium of Crime in the County of Tipperary, as 
recorded in the "Nenagh Guardian" from the 1st publication 
of that journal, the 21st July 1838 to the 13th. of March 
1839, comprising a period of nearly 8 months. Continued.
  
  13th. John Molony had a scuffle with two or three men in 
Cashel at night, received several fractures, of which he 
died.
  
  Peggy Quinlisk, of Cullehill, near Borrisokane, struck 
with a shovel on the head by John Ryan, which caused her 
death.
  
  Palliser Weyland, Esq. and his sons, accompanied by two 
bailiffs, were assaulted when collecting rents, by a number 
of armed men, who assailed the Messrs. Weyland, and made the 
Bailiffs eat the ejectment which he had just served.
  
  John Nicks was waylaid near Portroe, by two fellows named 
John Wills and Pat Carey, who fractured his skull-his life 
is despaired of.
  
  A poor man in charge of some hay in the streets of Cashel, 
was beaten by a gang of marauders, that he was obliged to be 
conveyed to the Infirmary.
  
  At Templemore, William Breen, Patrick Stapleton, Michael 
Ryan, and others, were sentenced to two months in prison, 
for violently assaulting the Police.
  
  18th.William and Catherine Dunn, were waylaid and 
assaulted near Cashel, by John and Laurence Dwyer, John 
Maher, and John Halloran, who absconded, under the belief 
that they had fully murdered their victims.
  
  A large cock of hay belonging to Michael Purcell, at 
Ballinahore, was maliciously burned.
  
  6th. A man named Meehan, at Birdhill, was struck a 
swinging blow of a heavy pitchfork, on the side of the head, 
which indented the skull, by a man named Ryan from 
Annahoulty, who has absconded.
  
  Thomas Ryan of Upperchurch, was brutally assaulted, so as 
to endanger his life, by Cornelius and John Ryan, neighbours 
and near relations.
  
  Michael Reedy, tollman, was knocked down and severely cut 
by Denis Salmon, who came behind him and gave him a violent 
blow on the head.
  
  Rioting in Clonmel, by reapers, two of the police were 
wounded by their reaping hooks.
  
  Threatening notice served on Messrs. Taylor and Ball, 
conductors of the Dunalley Silver-Mines.
  
  10th. John Maher beaten at the fair of Borrisoleigh, in 
August last, by Michael Magan, Pat Butler and others, died 
of the injuries he then and there received.
  
  John Dwyer brutally assaulted by Pat Tierney-his skull 
fractured.
  
  The Kennedys of Curraghneddy, their residence attacked by 
a number of men who fired shots into the thatch and set fire 
to the house in three or four places. A man of the name of 
Toohy was arrested, whom Kennedy said was of the party, but 
he afterwards refused to identify him.
  
  A man went into the house of a widow in the town of 
Nenagh, and upon her refusing him money which he demanded, 
he seized a large candlestick, and knocked her down, 
inflicting a severe wound over her eye. The man is known to 
her but she is afraid to prosecute.
  
  A discharge of firearms took place just previous to the 
service of a threatening notice at the Copper Mines near 
Newport, on Mr. Coates, Lord Stradbroke's agent.
  
  Michael Flannery threatened by Daniel Mulcahy, Daniel 
Quinlan, and others, with the death of Brien, and also that 
his house would be consumed over his head, and least he 
should escape the flames, he would be stoned to death.
  
  Margaret Cahill, who lived near Cashel was murdered by 
Patrick Cunningham, who was apprehended.
  
  A rockite notice, well written and well composed, served 
on George Wayland, Esq., the elder, father of the gentleman 
murdered with Mr. Cooper, threatening him and every member 
of his family with death if he did not use his influence to 
obtain the liberation of the men then in custody for that 
murder.
  
  The congregation in the Church of Fethard alarmed by a 
stone being thrown in through the windows, which struck a 
lady, Miss Eliza Walton on the forehead.
  
  17th.The house of Denis Sherlock, of Killaknave, Upper 
Ormond , was set on fire in three different parts of the 
thatch, and consumed to ashes.
  
  A quantity of corn, the produce of 8 acres, the property 
of Mr. Short, of Ballinamona, was maliciously set fire to 
and consumed.
  
  A blunderbuss was stolen out of the garden house of Mr. 
Head, of Derry Castle.
  
  A farmer named Ryan was waylaid on the Limerick road after 
selling corn, attacked by three men, who assaulted him, and 
robbed him of £7.
  
  A similar attempt was made in the same place, the week 
before, on three carmen, who succeeded in beating off the 
assailants.
  
  Christopher Grace assaulted in Nenagh by John and Michael 
Hanly.
  
  Margaret Kilgay assaulted by James Johnson, who struck her 
on the head with a pound weight.
  
  John Kennedy assaulted by John Flannery, who struck him 
with an iron weapon, knocked him down, and trampled on him.
  
  20th. A farmer named Quin was met by four ruffians  near 
Riverstown, within one mile of Nenagh, on his return home, 
took him down from his horse, and threw him over the bridge 
into the river.
  
  A pensioner named Lennihan was knocked down on the road on 
his return from Roscrea, assaulted and robbed of 10/.
  
  Nov. 3rd. Between 10 and 11 O'Clock on the night of last 
Tuesday, a body of armed men came to the front of the house 
of Mr. Stephen Hill, of Slean, near this town. One of them 
approached the bedroom window and discharged the contencts 
of a blunderbuss loaded with upward of 35 slugs in the 
direction of the bed in which Mr. Hill, his wife, and infant 
child lay, but without any serious effect, for the balls 
passed two inches higher than the counterpane and lodged in 
the bedstead and wall, and made shreads of the curtains. 
There was then a dead pause of about two moments, a groping 
at the door, a murmer of voices, a trampling of feet, and 
then a distinct charge of four shots in rapid succession. 
Whether it was the intention or not of the depredators to 
shoot Mr. Hill, would be of very little matter to him and 
his family, that the person who discharged the shot, stood 
some few paces further then he did. It was to the usual 
elevation of the contents immediately after the discharge 
that saved his life and the life of his wife and child. The 
purpose of the notice was to have him give up some land 
which he holds in the neighbourhood of Tyone, and from which 
persons of the name of Flannery have been ejected. A barn, 
dwelling home, and haggard of wheat were maliciously burned 
on him on these lands some three years ago. In the notice 
was "If we have to visit you again, you will not put it on 
the county". Alluding of course to the presentment for the 
above burning, and hinting that compensation can't be had 
from the County for murder. Mr. Hill is a good landlord, one 
whom, on the previous night, it would be impossible to 
convince , that his life would be thus attempted, by a 
sanguinary and atrocious peasantry. So confidant was he that 
benevolance, forbearance, and innumerable acts of kindness, 
would deprive even the savage peasantry of Tipperary, of 
their thirst for blood, and act as a bulwark of protection 
around him and his, he was foolish enough to, almost in 
general leave his back door unbolted.
  
  On Tuesday night last, a man named Cane was assaulted by a 
man named Thady King, who knocked him down and stabbed him 
with an oyster knife in the ribs.
  
  Two Policemen near the town of Tipperary, on their return 
home were attacked, and severely beaten and robbed of their 
arms, by a party of fellows lat in wait for them.
  
  Several farmers on the same evening, after selling their 
corn, were attacked in the same vicinity-assaulted and 
robbed of their money.
  
  20th. The house of a man named Kelly, of Ourra, was 
entered by three armed men, who beat him severely and took 
away his gun.
  
  23rd. A house in Lisbony, the property of Mr. John Spain, 
of Nenagh, was set on fire, and burned to the ground.
  
  25th. A man named Conwey, from Kilmore, beaten in a public 
house in Nenagh, his skull was fractured.
  
  A large quantity of turf was maliciously set on fire and 
consumed to ashes, on Greyfort Bog.
  
  Nov. 3rd. A man named Mera, returning from Thurles to his 
home was waylaid by two men named Purcell, who with stones 
fractured his skull.
  
  An armed party robbed the house of a farmer named Cooney, 
near Clerihan, of a gun, when the family were at Mass.
  
  The house of John Carey of Bantiss, near Nenagh, was 
attacked by two men, a shower of stones were thrown at the 
door. Carey in escaping received a blow of a stone.
  
  The house of Thomas Ardill, of Cloughjordan, was attacked 
by two men, who with stones, smashed in two windows, and 
attempted to break down the door. Ardill made his escape 
though pursued hotly.
  
  Harry Donnelly's house at Greyfort, was broken into with 
stones. Donnelly was struck in the leg. He is stewart to 
Henry Saunders, Esq.
  
  Michael Ryan of Upperchurch was attacked by his two 
brothers who fractured his skull with the blow of a stone.
  
  10th. A young man named Pierce Brazill, on Monday last in 
the town of Clonmel was set upon by four ruffians, who hit 
with a skull cracker, it was a death blow, from which he 
expired next morning. A coroners jury brought in a verdict 
of wilful murder against David Tobin, one of the murderers 
who was arrested on the spot.
  
  John Glarheen? (Could be Glasheen, but Glarheen is whats 
on the paper) the man charged with the murder of Michael 
Quin, at Cashel, who was set at Liberty after the Coroners 
inquest, there being no evidence to convict was arrested on 
Monday last.
  
  A party of five armed ruffians went to the herdsman's 
house at Ballinree, three entered and two stayed 
outside-they demanded the arms in his possession, and on 
receiving a gun and a pistol withdrew.
  
  14th. Bryan Buckley, of Derrileigh , near Newport,  was 
attacked on the 9th inst, in view of his own house, by four  
men named Collins, who were armed with spades and stones. 
They beat him severely, fracturing his skull, leaving him 
for dead. The Police in a few minutes after came by and 
followed the party, they arrested Maurice and Patrick 
Collins, father and son. The former in his bed, and under it 
two spades smeared with blood, he was only 6 months returned 
from 14 years transportation. The son was the person who 
fractured Buckly's skull.
  
  A rockite notice served on John Lanigan, Esq. containing a 
threat similar to Mr. O'Keeffes, if he interfered with some 
land, the property of O. Cave, Esq. M.P. Mr. Lanigan is 
Cave's agent and son-in-law to the murdered Mr. Keeffe.
  
  21st. On Friday last four men entered the house of Ed. 
Spillane of Shanbally, within three miles of Nenagh, and 
presented a gun and three pistols at him, ordering him to go 
down on his knees, which he did-they told him they were 
"Terry's" send there by Lady Clare, and if he attempted to 
go into a place of a man named Cleary, who was removed from 
his situation as herd to Geo. Atkinson, Esq. that he would 
get the death of the "Keeper", meaning Kennedy whose murder 
is recorded in the first number of out journal. On their 
departure they fired shots, and presented and snapped a 
pistol at a man named Gleeson who was in Spillane's house at 
the time.
  
  On Sunday night last between 10 and 11 O'Clock, as that 
very efficient Constable Franklin, and the police under him, 
were patrolling the lands of Curraghneddy (A place now 
notorious in the annals of Blood stained Tipperary, for its 
murders and burnings) they observed a house in flames. On 
coming up they found its owner Roger Gleeson and his family 
asleep in bed, and unconscious of their alarming situation. 
By much ado the Police made them sensible of their danger 
and having dragged them of the house, after much exertion, 
succeeded in supressing the fire. Had it not been for the 
providential interference of the police, Gleeson and his 
family would have in all probability been burned to death, 
for, adjoining the house on fire, was the barn, in which one 
end of it was stored dry flax-while in the other end was 
three cows and a horse. There was some stacks of corn in the 
rear of the house that was set on fire, and the wind blew in 
an unfavourable direction.
  
  24th. A man named Philip Ryan, of Kulleen, in Upper 
Ormond, standing in his own yard, was fired at by Daniel 
Kelly, with a pistol loaded with slugs. The powder burned 
Ryans face, the slugs missed him. He then went to the Police 
Station and gave the alarm. The police went to Kelly's house 
and arrested him, he was concealed under the bed. They found 
on his person a powder horn with a quantity of powder in it, 
and on searching;-they found a pistol loaded, at the bottom 
of a tub full of water.