Newspaper articles


The Times
Contributed by Mary Heaphy
1849

Times July 5th 1849

After a long interval of peace, Tipperary has again become the theatre of
assassination, and those other crimes for which its annals have obtained so
infamous a notoriety. The Nenagh papers which reached us this morning
contain a fearful catalogue of outrages, including the particulars of Mr.
Daniel Egan's murder, of the old stamp-manslaughter, firing at the person,
into dwellings, threatening notices, etc. The following details are
extracted from the Vindicator. Repeal authority. (I hope I have this right,
its very hard to read. Mary).

Cloughjordan: July 2nd. One of the most cruel, cold-blooded murders that has
ever disgraced humanity was perperated within 3 miles of this village. As
Mr. Daniel Egan of Ballydonagh, a most respectable young man, aged 24 years,
the unfortunate victim in this case, was proceeding on his way to Mass, to
Barna, in the company of his Parents and sisters. It appears he stopped some
perches behind them. The "Mass Path" led to a narrow lane with a high ditch
on each side through which they had to pass. He had not gone far in the lane
when a pistol was discharged from behind the ditch, and his father, on
turning around when he heard the report, saw his son prostrate in the lane,
a lifeless corpse. He received two large slugs, one entered his side
immediately opposite his heart, and the other a few inches lower. An inquest
will be held on the body today. On examining the place where the shooting
happened, it was found that the assassin had a hole bored through the top of
the ditch, so large that he could take deliberate aim.. The deed was
committed by one person only, he was seen running from the place after the
shot was fired. The only reason that can be assigned, is that his father is
a middle Landlord and bound to pay the head rent, though he had not for the
last two years even so much from his tenants , and in consequence was
obliged to harsh measures to recover it. It is rumoured that three men have
been taken on suspicion, also a girl who was coming up at the time the deed
was committed. It is said that she will identify the murderer.


On the night of Friday 28th, at 11O'Clock the house of Mr Michael Hawley, of
Ballycapple, Poor Law Guardian, a most respectable farmer, was attacked by
some wanton ruffians, who, after breaking his windows, fired a shot through
the door. The ball passed through the kitchen, where some of his family were
but a few minutes before, and lodged in the wall. Five minutes had not
elapsed when Constable M'Loskey and his men, who were as usual on patrol,
came running to the door, but the midnight miscreants must have heard the
tramp of their feet, which enabled them, with the darkness of the night, to
escape their praiseworthy vigilance. On examination the constable found a
notice on the door, of which the following is a copy. !Michael Haly take
warning by this admit Gordon no longer in your house for if you do I will
come again and send you to hell that is wan word for it let Martin Flarty
take the same warning thomas holy? let him take the same no more but by all
the letters that is on this bit of paper if I come again I will settle all
of you.! The person alluded to above is a teacher , a quiet inoffensive man,
whom Mr. Hawley and other neighbours have kept in their houses alternately
for the last 6 years during which time his conduct has been exemplary.

On the same night the house of Mr. Shoebottom, a respectable farmer , was
visited by the same gang, who after firing a shot, posted a notice on his
door, nearly verbatim with the above. It is but a fortnight hence since Mr.
Shoebottom had his windows broken and a shot fired, when Mrs Shoebottom was
but a few inches from where the ball passed.

On Friday night 29th a man named Michael Rahilly received a gunshot wound
and only survived a few hours afterwards. It was inflicted by a man named
Richard Tobin, a caretaker, in the employ of Mr. Simon Lowe, justice of the
peace. Tobin was taken into custody by the Spring-house police, to whom he
had reported the occurance, alleging that an attack had been made on him by
Rahilly. An inquest was held on the body by the Coroner, Captain Bradshaw,
on Saturday last when a verdict of manslaughter was returned against Tobin,
who has been fully committed for trial on the charge of manslaughter for the
evening assizes at Clonmel.