Misc: Requests for Leniency - Sessional Papers. 1839 *********************************************** Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives Tipperary Index Copyright ************************************************ File contributed by: Mary Heaphy REQUESTS FOR LENIENCY - SESSIONAL PAPERS. 1839 1. Memorial of PETER RYAN, JOHN RYAN, JAMES MAGRATH, JAMES HOGAN, JOHN HONORS, PATRICK DWYER, and HENRY WADE. To his Excellency the Earl of Mulgrave, Lord Lieutenant General and General Governor of Ireland. The humble Memorial of PETER RYAN, JOHN RYAN, JAMES MAGRATH, JAMES HOGAN, JOHN HONORS, PATRICK DWYER, and HENRY WADE, of Cappaghwhite in the County of Tipperary, now Prisoners in the House of Correction of said County, Humbly showeth, That your Excellency's Petitioners were tried at October Sessions 1835, at Clonmel, before the Worshipful Assistant Barrister HOWLEY, Esq., and a Board of Magistrates, and found guilty of an Affray at the Fair of Cappagh about last September, and sentenced to Twelve Months Imprisonment with hard Labour. That on passing Sentence on your Petitioners his Worship the Barrister said that if Peace and good Harmony existed in that District, Cappaghwhite, for Six Months, that he would make Application to the Government for your Petitioner's Discharge. That there have been Two Fairs in Cappagh since the Conviction of your Petitioners, and that there has been no rioting nor any thing to disturb the Peace of the Fairs, which can be attested by JOHN WILCOCKS, Esq., Chief Magistrate, and the Parish Priesy.Appendix (K.) Memorials to the Lord Lieutenant in favour of Prisoners set at liberty. Your Excellency's Petitioners further say, they will never be guilty of a Breach of the Peace or Riot as long as they live ; and that your Petitioners hope your Excellency, from your wonted Goodness, and your Wish and Anxiety to encourage the Peace of the Country, will, on a Representation from his Worship and the Magistrate of the District, JOHN WILCOCKS, Esq., of the Truth of the Memorial, be pleased to order their Discharge. And your Memorialists will for ever pray. 2. Memorial of WILLIAM DWYER, THOMAS RANKINS, MICHAEL LACY, JOHN MURPHY, DENIS M'CARTHY, DANIEL LONERGAN, THOMAS DWYER, DANIEL HARRIS, and PATRICK HARRIS. To his Excellency Constantine Henry Earl of Mulgrave, K.C.H., General and General Governor of Ireland. The Memorial of the undersigned WILLIAM DWYER, THOMAS RANKINS, MICHAEL LACY, JOHN MURPHY, DENIS M'CARTHY, DANIEL LONERGAN, THOMAS DWYER, DANIEL HARRIS, and PATRICK HARRIS, Most humbly showeth, That your Memorialists were tried for a Riot and Assault before Mr. Assistant Barrister HOWLEY at the Quarter Sessions of the Peace held in the City of Cashel in the Month of January last, and were found guilty, and sentenced by him to Eighteen Months Imprisonment and hard Labour, and who at the Time of passing Sentence on your Memorialists was pleased to remark, that if the Peace was observed in that Part of the Country where the Friends of Memorialists reside, that the said Assistant Barrister HOWLEY would recommend a Mitigation of the Sentence. Your Memorialists further showeth that during the Imprisonment of your Memorialists these Seven Months past the Peace has been strictly kept by the Friends of your Memorialists, a written Certificate of which has been signed by the resident Catholic Clergymen of the Parishes to which your Memorialists each and respectively belongs, and which Certificate, so signed by Four Catholic Clergymen, is now in the Possession of Mr. Assistant Barrister HOWLEY, and to whom, for the Truth of this Allegation, your Memorialists most respectfully refer. Your Memorialists therefore approach your Excellency, and trust, and indeed confidently hope, that by taking into consideration the long and severe Imprisonment they have suffered, the general Observance of Peace and Tranquillity in the District where your Memorialists resided, the Oblivion and Forgetfulness between them of all Animosities and Party Feuds, and also the written Certificate as to the general Peace of the District where your Memorialists resided, signed by the Four Catholic Clergymen, now in Mr, Assistant Barrister HOWLEY's Possession (as before mentioned), you will be graciously pleased to order our Liberation, and to remit the Remainder of our Time of Imprisonment. And we shall as in Duty bound ever pray. 3. Memorial of PATRICK MEARA and MICHAEL LAWLER. To his Excellency Earl Mulgrave, Lord Lieutenant General and General Governor of Ireland. Humbly showeth, That JOHN MEARA and JOHN LAWLER ( Petitioners Sons) were convicted of a Riot at the last Thurles Quarter Sessions, and sentenced each to Nine Months Imprisonment and hard Labour. That Petitioners are small struggling Farmers depending on their own and Children's Labour for Subsistence, and particularly in want of their Children's Assistance during the Harvest. Petitioners particularly beg to refer your Excellency to the Character ?f the Prosecutor attached hereto, as also to the Characters of their Children now in Prison. Petitioners beg to assure your Excellency that the imprisoned were never concerned in Party Fights, nor until this Time ever in an accidental Riot. Petitioners do not wish to annoy your Excellency by stating the Particulars of the Riot for which their Children have been convicted, but they solemnly assure your Excellency that the Riot was unpremeditated on the Part of their Children. Memorials to the Lord Lieutenant in favour of Prisoners set at liberty. Your Petitioners therefore humbly intreat your Excellency for the Remission of the unexpired Portion of the Sentence passed on their Children. And your Petitioners will ever pray. Patt. LAWLER. Mich. ??ARA. We the undersigned have attended and were sworn as Jurors at the last Nenagh Quarter Sessions. A Trial for Riot came before us in which a Man named DANIEL FOGARTY (the Person, as we are informed, who prosecuted MEARA and LAWLER, mentioned in the attached Petition,) was Prosecutor, and one Moran Defendant; FOGARTY'S Evidence was such that we could not believe him. If the Persons mentioned in the Petition have been convicted on his Testimony, we have no Hesitation in recommending them to Mercy. ?. ?. Abbot, Foreman. WM. BOURKE. JAS. MAGRATH. PAT. CLEARY. JNO. DARCY. JNO. DONOHOE. PAT. MEARA. PAT. BRIEN. JNO. MOYLAN. H. HARDEN. MICH.M’KEAGH, CH.SWITZER. We the undersigned testify to the excellent Characters Petitioners and their Children have always borne, and we join in urging the Prayer of their Petition. JNO. O'MEARA, V.P., Drumkerrin. John Eagan, V.P. EDM. TOOKEY, R.C. Curate. BERN. DUNN, P.P., Cloghjordon. N. HOURIGAN, P.P., Shinrone. ED'W. KENNEDY, Distiller, Cloghjordon. Moneygall, 20th July 1836. Source: THE SESSIONAL PAPERS PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS, OR PRESENTED BY ROYAL COMMAND IN THE SESSION 1839, ARRANGED IN THIRTY-EIGHT VOLUMES. http://books.google.com/books?id=_v1bAAAAQAAJ&source= gbs_navlinks_s