Various news articles relating to County Monaghan 26 Mar. 1825 Assizes - A Singular Case (fire) Belfast Commercial Chronicle
The concluding trial at the Monaghan Assizes which terminated on the 10th inst. was of a most singular and interesting nature. It took place before Mr. Justice BURTON who sat on the 'Nisi Prius' side and occupied the court from an early hour on Wed. afternoon until 11 o'clock at night. The following are the leading particulars as they transpired in evidence. Edward M'ELROY (a coarse country lad aged about 20) was capitally indicted for setting fire to a car-house, belonging to Mr. David WOODS of Corduffkelly near Carrickmacross, in Feb. last. Mr. WOODS the 1st witness, deposed to the circumstances attending the burning of his car house, which took place about 12 o’clock at night, when the family were all in bed. He stated that being awake he heard a noise outside his house, as of some person stumbling, in consequence of which he was induced to rise out of bed and on going down stairs and opening the hall-door, which he did quietly, he beheld his car-house on fire and distinctly saw the prisoner (M'ELROY) urging the flames towards the dwelling house. He (the prosecutor) instantly alarmed his family and called to his son for assistance, meanwhile the prisoner escaped and the family with great difficulty succeeded in subduing the fiery element. The witness further stated that M'ELROY had been in his service for some years, but was discharged by him a short time previous to this transaction. He admitted that a calf and a pig, which had been closed in the car-house on the night in question, escaped unhurt. Thomas WOODS son to the prosecutor, stated that on hearing his father call out that the house was on fire, he ran out naked and he saw the figure of a man at a distance running from the flames. This was the case for the prosecution. In defence Charlotte WOODS, aged 18, the daughter of the prosecutor, appeared. She first denied that any attachment subsisted between her and the prisoner and then gave the following account of the burning. She related that on the evening in question all the family, excepting herself and a servant girl, whom she called Ellen, went to bed between 9 and 10 o’clock. She usually slept in a small bedroom on the ground floor, off the kitchen, the servant girl, who slept in the same room, having some articles of wearing apparel to mend, sat up for that purpose, unknown to her master and the family and she (the witness) remained in the kitchen assisting her, until about half past 11 o’clock, when, hearing her father cough and make a noise as if rising, she and the servant hurried into their bedroom, extinguished the candle and began to undress. Miss WOODS went on to state that she and the girl had just knelt down to their prayers, when she heard a stool fall and her face being turned towards the kitchen, into which a small window looked, she observed her father approach the fire, from which he took a lighted turf; that she then beckoned the servant to watch her father and they followed him to the door, where they remained concealed and actually saw him, with his own hand, set fire to the car-house, he having first carefully loosed the calf and pig and set them at liberty. She further deposed that on witnessing such extraordinary conduct on the part of her father, she and the servant hastily returned to their room; they were greatly frightened and although partly undressed, crept into bed, fearing that her father might come into the room. She then heard her father deliberately close the kitchen door and go up stairs, where he remained about a quarter of an hour and then came down and gave the alarm of fire. In addition, she related the particulars of a conversation between her 2 elder brothers, which she overheard, a night or two after the burning. One of them remarked to the other, "It (speaking of the burning) was a good plan to get M'ELROY put out of the way” on which he replied, “Yes, but I doubt my father will go too far - he must perjure himself.” She also said that some days previous to the burning, her father had accused her of being intimate with M'ELROY and told her that he would not suffer any person of such condition to come near his house or have any acquaintance with his daughter. Being cross-examined on this point, she declared that she had no particular regard for the prisoner, that there had been no intimacy between them, nor had he ever taken any improper liberties with her, that she always addressed him as a servant and only looked on him as her father’s servant. She admitted that she now lived under the protection of the prisoner’s relations, having left her father’s house about a fortnight previously, at which time she, and the maid-servant who accompanied her, gave information of the foregoing facts to a neighbouring Magistrate. The servant girl who was next examined corroborated in every particular the statement given by Miss WOODS A tailor was examined to prove an alibi for the prisoner. He swore that on the night on which the burning was said to have taken place, the prisoner came to his house to get a pair of small clothes mended; that he (the tailor) sat up all night mending the small-clothes and doing some other work about which he was hurried, that he (the prisoner) sat with him and remained in his house and in his company from sunset to sunrise. Counsel for the prosecution requested and obtained leave to produce further testimony on behalf of the Crown. George WOODS son to prosecutor, said he had heard what was stated by his sister, relative to a conversation between him and his brother; he swore positively that no such conversation, nor any such words, ever passed between them. He added that after the burning, his brother and he sat up for several nights, watching the premises and that on a particular night, while passing the byre, where his sister and Ellen (the servant) were milking the cows, he overheard the girl remark to his sister, "Couldn’t we put the burning on feeding the calf?" This, the witness explained, by saying that the calf had been usually fed by candle light, the inference he drew from the observation was, that they had intended to ascribe the burning to the lighted candle, communicating accidentally, with the building, to which his sister replied, "We might have done so, had Ned (meaning the prisoner) taken the turf out of the thatch.” The witness further stated that he found the turf with which the house had been set on fire and that it was of a peculiar quality, totally different from his father’s turf. He also stated that an intimacy had subsisted between his sister and the prisoner, whom he discovered one day, in a backroom of a house in Carrickmacross, in such a situation, as left no doubt on his mind, of their improper intimacy. Thomas WOODS was then examined relative to the conversation sworn by his sister to have taken place between him and his brother George. He swore positively that no such conversation had ever taken place. A girl named COLLINS, also in the service of the prosecutor was next examined. She stated that she was in the kitchen, the night in question, in company with Miss WOODS and the servant Ellen and swore positively that they did not remain more than half an hour after the family went to bed; that they merely washed their feet and did not sew or mend any part of their clothes. She said that Miss WOODS, Ellen and herself then went into the bedroom off the kitchen; that they had all 3 undressed and were in the act of praying when the alarm of fire was given by her master. She distinctly denied all that the 2 others had sworn respecting the conduct of her master; nothing of the kind took place that she saw, nor could it have taken place without her seeing it!! Catherine WOODS and the girl Ellen were confronted with the last witness and both adhered firmly to what they had previously sworn. They asserted that COLLINS was in bed fully 2 hours before them and that she was sleeping, or pretending to be sleeping, when they went into the room. They denied that any conversation, such as that described by George WOODS, had ever passed between them. The learned judge now proceeded to sum the evidence. After going over the evidence for the prosecution he remarked that no person had seen the prisoner at the house but the prosecutor, who possibly might, in the terror of the moment, have been mistaken as to his identity; that therefore, had the defence rested solely on the alibi, there would unquestionably have been such doubts on the minds of the jury, as to the guilt of the prisoner, that he must have been acquitted. But from the extraordinary testimony that had been given by Charlotte WOODS and one of the servants and which testimony was contradicted by a second servant, the case assumed a new aspect. Here his Lordship went over the whole of the evidence, commenting on it as he proceeded. His charge to the jury, which occupied fully an hour, terminated about 11 o’clock. The jury remained closeted during the night and until the afternoon of Thur., when, not having agreed on any verdict, they were conveyed to the verge of the county and discharged in the usual manner. 23 Jul. 1825 Monaghan assizes The case of Edward M'ELROY, who was tried last assizes for the burning of an out-house belonging to David WOODS of Corduffkelly, but the jury not having then come to any decision, were dismissed at the verge of County. On the present occasion able counsel were engaged on both sides, but a great deal of conflicting testimony was suppressed. Counsel for the prisoner rested their defence on an alibi which in our opinion, was most satisfactory and conclusive. The jury, however, were of a different opinion; as, after a short deliberation, they returned a verdict of guilty, Sentence of death was pronounced in the usual manner. (Drogheda Journal) 4 Jun. 1836 Notice At a meeting of the parishioners of Corduff Chapel, held in the school-room on Sunday 24th April 1836, the undersigned persons were mutually selected to act as committee and directory of their chapel and pursuant to the general voice of the people there assembled, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted. Resolved; 1 That an acreable cess of sixpence per acre be levied off the landholders attached to this chapel in the month October next, and put into the hands of an honest county treasurer, for the purpose of repairing their chapel in a respectable manner, such as the committee may approve of. 2 That the collection at the chapel gates (now anxiously carried on by the officiating clergymen) will cease for 12 months or until such time as the land cess will be collected 3 That 2 men be appointed in each townland attached to the chapel, to collect the cess and deposit it with the treasurer and take up a receipt for the sum advanced. 4 That the committee now appointed by the clergy will not be approved of, or meet the sanction or approbation of the cess payers and the congregation will not be governed in future by any law or measure which the present clergy of their committee may think proper to enact, respecting the repairs of their chapel and any other building connected therewith 5 That no person who has taken an active part with the present clergy to have a central chapel built in the townland of Ardagh, will in future, be intrusted in the discharge of any duty which may be found necessary to be done for the improvement of the old chapel. 6 That the treasurer may not have liberty to advance any part of the public money deposited with him, without an order signed by 5 or more of the committee 7 That no funeral offering be paid in future in this part of the parish, as the people in general are opposed to such a practice. 8 That from the date hereof, no oats shall be given to the Parish priest or his curate, by way of tribute, as it is a well known fact that this institution first took its rise from the imposition of selfish and designing men, but not practised in the primitive ages of Christianity 9 That these resolutions be printed. Francis O'BRYAN, Corbani, in the chair Thomas DWYER, treasurer Bernard HAND, secretary Names of the committee James MURRAY James MARRIN Thomas MARRIN Philip MARRIN Terence RUSH Thomas LARKIN John TRAYNOR Arthur CONOLLY Simon M'KITTRICK Thomas MARRIN Francis LARKIN Patrick KEENAN In thus fearlessly speaking out and denouncing particular exactions as the 'imposition of selfish and designing men', the congregation of Corduff Chapel have evinced a spirit which no dread of ecclesiastical censure can subdue and a fixedness of purpose, a determination, which it is evident, will not brook trifling. If indeed, the reports from the county of Monaghan be true, more is meant than meets the eye in these resolutions. At all events, we have grounds for believing that the parochial movement now in progress will not terminate here. (Newry Telegraph) 22 Jul. 1837 Might versus Right It will be in the recollection of our readers that a dispute has been some time been raged between a Roman Catholic priest named M’KONE and a schoolmaster of the name RUSH, relative to the possession of a school house, adjoining the chapel of Corduff, in the County of Monaghan and which school-house was built by public subscription The subject matter of dispute came before the Quarter sessions court lately sitting at Castleblaney. On that occasion the bills of indictment, which had been sent up to the grand jury, against Owen RUSH, for repossessing himself of the school-house, out of which he had been illegally driven by the priest, were ignored and the priest defeated. In this state matters remained until the night of the 8th instant, when we are informed, the school-house was attacked by a party of men and wrecked and the school requisites, consisting of forms, tables, books and other articles, were wantonly destroyed. We give this short statement on the authority of our correspondent. (Newry Telegraph ) 8 Jun. 1843 Lamentable Affray in Monaghan We are given to understand by letters received in town that a serious collision took place on Monday morning on a portion of the Shirley estate, in the barony of Farney, in which several lives were lost. In the course of last week an application had been made to the court of Queen's Bench to substitute service of a writ of 'capias' on a tenant of the Messrs. SHIRLEY and it was then stated, that although the lands belonging to the property in question were generally set from 20 - 25 percent, under the average rental of the county, that a wide-spread conspiracy existed to effect abatement of 20 per cent, in addition. The affidavit of the process server also detailed repeated acts of violence by the people when it was sought to execute this process of the law. On Monday, instructions were given to post the order for substitution of service on the chapel and other conspicuous places in the district, but information had been conveyed to the agent that it was meant to make resistance, the aid of a body of police was procured, acting under the command of Mr. WILCOCKS, the stipendiary magistrate stationed at Kings court. Great crowds collected on the approach of the police and matters assumed such an alarming aspect that Mr. WILCOCKS was twice obliged to read the riot act, with a view of inducing the peasantry to disperse. This result was not obtained and Mr. SMITH, the under agent, having been knocked down and the danger being considered imminent, the police were ordered to fire. We have heard that 6 of the country people were killed and several others wounded and also that Mr. SMITH was murdered. (Saunders Newsletter) These are the particulars as we have been able to ascertain them; We (Dublin Freeman) lay before our readers the following extract of a letter, received in town this day by a respectable gentleman connected with Monaghan, with which we have been favoured. The letter is dated ‘Carrickmacross, 5th June.’ and its harrowing details will not fail to shock every humane man in the community A most melancholy circumstance has occurred here this day. The police force in town escorted John M'ENEANY to the chapels of Maheracloone and Corduff, for the purpose of posting up ejectments on the chapels in order to substitute service, this being the last day. The police that went out with the sergeant in the morning finding that the people arranged themselves between them and the chapel doors and that they could not post the ejectments, they very properly returned to town, without using any force and then Mr. WILCOX and BARRY went out with them a second time, when the people got between them and the chapels again, in great numbers. Finding the posting could not be effected, Mr. WILCOX took upon himself to interpret the law of riot and read the riot act and the people not having dispersed in the few minutes allowed them under that act and being, in reality, ignorant of the nature of such a reading. Mr. WILCOX gave the command to fire, when a round of ball cartridge was discharged by 28 policemen upon a crowd of persons, the most of which, it is alleged, to have taken effect. One man has been shot dead on the spot and several more dangerously wounded. It is melancholy to think that the lives of human beings should be sacrificed for such a purpose," 16 Sept. 1878 Alleged Murder in Co. Monaghan from our correspondent - Saturday Night - Intelligence has just reached this town that a dreadful murder has been committed at place called Corduff, near Ballytrain, in Co. Monaghan. Particulars are wanting, but from what has arrived, it appears that on Friday morning at 2 o'clock, a man named Edward COOGAN, a farmer, was shot dead. No inquest has as yet been held, but the police are carefully investigating the matter and there are some grounds to suspect who the perpetrator of the outrage is. Official documents just received give nothing in detail. (irish Times) 20 Sept. 1878 The Alleged Attempted Murder in Co. Monaghan The man, Edward COOGAN, who was thought to be shot dead, is still alive, although in a very dangerous condition. It appears from what information has come to hand that the injured man, Edward COOGAN, is a farmer living in Corduff and his brother, who is also a farmer, holds land in the same vicinity. At last sessions Edward COOGAN obtained a civil bill decree against his brother and proceeded to execute it on Thursday last. No objection was raised to the seizure, but it was deemed requisite by the injured man to guard the distrained crops of corn. Accordingly he, along with those employed, were engaged watching it when, about 2 o'clock on Friday morning, they were attacked by a number of men. A conflict ensued and in the melee COOGAN received a gunshot wound to the left side. The police were immediately communicated with and strict inquiries were made. After being made acquainted with the facts of the case the police arrested the injured man’s brother and two others, who were supposed to be implicated in the outrage. The men, who have been arrested, are in gaol awaiting the investigation. 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