13 April 1825 Sovereign's Court (Belfast) Intimidation
The following case came before the court on Monday A young lad, named CARMICHAEL, was charged by James HERD, a farmer of this neighbourhood, with having threatened to injure his person and property. According to the statement of complainant and his wife, it appeared that CARMICHAEL, in company with 7 other individuals, accosted him in the field where he was at work, on Monday three weeks, that one of these persons named M'DERMOTT entered the field, and, having asked complainant if the property was his, he threatened that he would 'warm his legs some night, without his requiring to leave the bed-stock', and that CARMICHAEL cried through an opening in the hedge, he 'knew him (HERD) by his cape, and would mark him.' They then went towards complainant’s dwelling house and having got a drink of water from his wife, uttered similar threats in her presence. Mr. HERD was suspected to have given information respecting some illicit tobacco, which was found concealed in his neighbourhood some time ago. A printed placard was produced, which had been posted on HERD's premises, inscribed 'James HERD is the informer on William MORROW' The Sovereign, with whom was John M'CANCE Esq. on the bench, expressed their determination to repress such attempts at intimidation, by those ample means which the law furnished, and ordered CARMICHAEL to find bail to keep the peace. Infamous Houses Pat. O'HARA, Mrs. and Miss O'HARA and Betty HAGAN, their maid, appeared to answer the charges of assaulting David ADAMS and keeping a disorderly house. Pat. as principal in the assault, and his wife, daughter, and maid, as main causes of the charge of infamy now brought against their establishment in West street. In support of the latter charge, complainant laid a petition before the bench, 'respectably and numerously' signed, from the inhabitants of Greg’s Row and vicinity, setting forth the grievances under which they laboured, in consequence of the outrageous and abominable conduct of the tenants of the O'HARA family, such conduct tending to "deprave the morals of the rising inhabitants, disturb the public peace and endangar unwary strangers, who might be dragged in and plundered,” by the hordes of prostitutes, thieves, robbers, and pickpockets, whom David ADAMS described as the constant inmates of said tenements. Complainant then stated, that old O'HARA committed the alleged assault by spitting at him and threatening to leave his brains on the street to gather. Pat. O'HARA "Your Honour, I deny the spit!” He then preferred a counter charge of mischievous and horrifying threats against ADAMS. Magistrate - Will you swear you are afraid of ADAMS? Miss O'HARA "Yes he will, your Honours." - "Sure, you may swear that?” - Old O'HARA seemed ready to swear, but the oath was not administered. The charge of assault was dismissed and the nuisance was sent to the Quarter sessions. Family Jars Ayoung man preferred a charge of assault against his landlord. The man rents a room, in which he was quietly sitting last Easter eve, when he heard 'kick up' above stairs, and his land-lady's voice topmost screeching 'murder' and calling for his (the lodger’s) assistance to rescue her from destruction. The young man, simply enough, though gallantly, rushed up stairs, to save his landlady and was received by his landlord with a blow under the angle of the left jaw, which returned him reeling down stairs to his apartment. The landlord denied the assault. He had merely driven his wife into a corner to take a couple of keys from her, when the complainant impertinently interfered and seized him the breast. The Magistrate cautioned the youth against similar interferance in future and dismissed the case. 16 Dec. 1829 on Marriage SELDON says, "Marriage is a desperate thing. The frogs in Esop were extremely wise; they had a great mind to some water, but they would not leap into the well, because they could not get out again." The learned civilian seems to have had great a horror of matrimony as St. Paul himself, though does not treat the subject solemnly. In another place he remarks, "A man that 'will' have a wife should be at the charge of her trinkets, and pay all the scores she sits upon them. He that will keep a monkey should pay for the glasses he breaks.?" Rules for Building "Never build after you are five and-forty; have five years income in hand before you lay a brick; and always calculate the expence at double the estimate." Kett Best Part of a Feast Cornaro had a merry saying, that would not be credited in the city, that of all parts of a feast, 'that which one leaves does one the most good.” Wadd on Corpulency Signs of Over- feeding The person who after meals complains of giddiness, heaviness, lassitude, uneasiness, distension of the belly, or great inclination to sleep, has exceeded the rules of prudence, and should be on his guard in future. In order to preserve both body and mind in full activity to taste the pleasure and advantages of food, it should be taken with prudence. We should never forget the salutary rule, that "to forbear is to enjoy.” Oracle of Health. married On Wednesday last by the Rev. John ORR of Portaferry Mr. John GUNNING of Tullymally, to Eliza. eldest daughter ef Mr. Samuel WILSON of Tullynacreed. On Monday last, by the Rev. James Smith, Mr. Samuel BEGGS (or BOGGS) Drumnacannon, to Miss Matilda KELSO of Drumlave (?) near Portglenone. At Abbey Place, Kelso, Scotland, on the 23rd ultimo, George GILLIES Esq. surgeon, Coldstream, Rebecca Jane, only daughter of the late Maior David SETON of the Hon. East India Company's Service. died At Newis Bridge on the 14th ult. Margaret SMYTH in the 89th year of her age. On the 23rd ult. Mary MORELAND of Ballybranagan, near Portaferry, in the 88th year of her age. On the 3rd inst. Mr. Finlay BUCHANNAN for many years a respectable cloth-merchant in Enniskillen. On the 8th inst. Mr. Fookes MOORE, recorder of the corporation of Enniskillen. transcribed by Teena from the Belfast Commercial Chronicle -- www.cotyrone.com http://lists.cotyrone.com/mailman/listinfo/ulsterancestry https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoTyroneIrelandGenealogy/ _______________________________________________ UlsterAncestry@cotyrone.com UlsterAncestry Mailing List Searchable Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/ulsterancestry@cotyrone.com/ http://lists.cotyrone.com/mailman/listinfo/ulsterancestry Website: https://cotyrone.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoTyroneIrelandGenealogy/