Happy Monday List The following bits of news were transcribed from the Londonderry Sentinel.
14 Apr. 1863 Attempted Murder in County Donegal Once more the red hand of the assassin has been raised in Ulster; and probably as we write, another human life has been sacrificed to the ribbon Code, among the highlands of Donegal. Our readers are already aware that the district of Glenveagh in the Parish of Garton, has acquired wide-spread notoriety owing to the brutal and barbarous circumstances under which Mr. James MURRAY was murdered there some two or three years ago. He was land-steward to John G. ADAIR Esq., and the way in which he carried out his employer's orders brought upon him the ill-will of the tenants, who were mostly, if not all, small holders. Nightly gatherings of certain of the tenants were observed being held and at last MURRAY, was murdered in a most cold-blooded manner, while looking after cattle among the mountains, in open day and within a mile or so of his residence. Certain matters transpired which went to show that a number of men must have been concerned in the bloody deed. Arrests were made of parties supposed to be implicated in the commission of the crime, but no case strong enough was made to warrant the authorities in presenting the case before a jury, so that up to the present time MURRAY'S blood is unavenged, so far as the operation of law is concerned. Shortly after the murder, a man named Adam GRIERSON, whose attempted assassination we have now to record, was, out of thirty or forty applicants for the situation, selected to fill the office of land-steward, or rather, caretaker, as held by Mr. MURRAY. The duty of the office was principally to prevent the tenants trespassing with cattle on the mountains, or pursuing game; the district, as most of our readers know, being one of the wildest and most romantic in the county of Donegal. The first step taken by Mr. ADAIR after the murder of his caretaker, was to bring ejectments against such of the tenantry, as he believed privy to MURRAY'S murder; and Adam GRIERSON'S first duty on entering his office was to superintend the evictions, under the protection of the sheriff and a very large police force. The evictions occupied three days during which time, some thirty, or forty, houses were demolished and nearly 200 persons evicted. Some emigrated, some entered the workhouse, so as to swell the rates on the parish of Gartan to 10.s in the pound, while others lurked amid their old haunts, or squatted on neighbouring estates. This first act of GRIERSON, on taking office, excited the deadly hatred of the evicted and their friends and threats were made regarding him and his "crowbar brigade", which boded no good intent on the part of the peasantry. GRIERSON was frequently warned that his life was not worth a moment's purchase; but he treated the matter with the utmost indifference, saying in effect, that there was no fear, that he had been shot at, two or three times, in the south of Ireland, and none of them could touch him. He admitted that the Gartan men would like to shoot him, but that they were too great cowards to try that, so long as he carried a revolver. GRIERSON possessed a license to carry arms in the district, which is proclaimed, until some time ago, when the order was revoked by the Irish Government. GRIERSON having foolishly allowed himself to be inveigled into a quarrel with several of the peasantry in a public-house, where he drew a pistol on some of those present. At the next ensuing assizes at Lifford, GRIERSON submitted to a charge of common assault, the major one of "firing at" being abandoned by the crown; and he was sentenced to three months imprisonment, which term he put up in Lifford gaol. Nothing very particular happened in the district until lately, which brings as to detail the circumstances connected with a diabolical attempt to take GRIERSON'S life. About eight o'clock on Friday night, it appears that he was walking within about 200 yards of his own house, which is situated about a mile and a half from Churchill. GRIERSON suddenly observed a man rush out of a lime-kiln close by. When the intending assassin, for such he proved to be, came near, he presented a double-barrelled pistol at GRIERSON, fired and lodged a number of slugs in his abdomen. Not satisfied with this the fellow snapped the cap of the second barrel and it missed fire. He then deliberately proceeded to recap the pistol and again fired, but the shot did not, however, take effect. In the meantime, GRIERSON stooped to lift a stone to throw at his dastardly assailant, but while in the act, he fell exhausted from loss of blood on the road. The villain, no doubt thinking he had thoroughly done his bloody work, immediately made off. GRIERSON lay stretched on the road for some time, but at length recovered sufficiently to be able to reach his cottage. He immediately gave an alarm, the police were sent for, and from information given them by GRIERSON, they arrested a man named Francis BRADLEY, about four, or five o'clock on Saturday morning, in the house of a shoemaker, who resides some two or three miles from the scene of the outrage. Meanwhile, Dr. Henly THORPE was summoned to attend GRIERSON, from Letterkenny. On his arrival he despaired of GRIERSON'S life, after examining the wounds he had been subjected to. Shortly after, BRADLEY was brought before GRIERSON and fully identified by him as the person who had attempted his life. The informations of the wounded man were taken and the prisoner lodged in Letterkenny Bridewell to await the issue. BRADLEY, the perpetrator of this foul crime, is a very daring fellow, was one of the evicted and was charged with being a party to the murder of the late Mr. MURRAY. It is a most remarkable circumstance in connexion with this murderous attack on GRIERSON, that he, with his wife and eight children, intended leaving Glenveagh on the very day his life was attempted, but was delayed owing to some affairs with his employer not having been finally arranged. His intention was to emigrate to New Zealand or Australia. It is not unlikely that this circumstance may have precipitated the commission of the crime, as the peasantry entertained a deadly hatred towards him and would regard it as a failure of the wild "justice of revenge," if GRIERSON had been allowed to leave the country unscathed. Intelligence of this outrage reached Letterkenny about four o'clock on Saturday morning, an express having been sent from Churchhill to the authorities. County inspector HILL, the sub-inspector and a police force proceeded with all despatch to the district, where they were met by Mr. M'LEOD R.M., who took GRIERSON'S depositions and afterwards took the necessary steps for BRADLEY'S arrest. Since writing the foregoing, we learn that GRIERSON lingered until yesterday (Monday) evening, when death terminated his sufferings. Derry Union The usual meeting of the Board of Guardians was held on Saturday at twelve o'clock, Major Stott, chairman, presiding. Sir Robert BATESON Bart.; Messrs. W. H. ASHE, John M'CLELLAN, S. LYLE, John WILLS and A. HYNDMAN were also present. The Rev. Mr. KILPATRICK was appointed a warden for the Claudy dispensary district. The clerk read a letter from Mr. Robert M'CLINTOCK of Dunmore house, informing the board that the following gentlemen were elected officers of Killen dispensary district on the 7th instant; Rev. Edward BOWEN chairman; Sir Robert BATESON Bart, vice-chairman; Robert M'CLINTOCK Esq., honorary secretary, Mr. Samuel RANKIN, assistant honorary secretary. The clerk stated that some years ago, the late Mr. Patrick GILMOUR got a number of widows and their families, sent from the workhorse into the factory of a friend of his, who resides in Cumberland, where they were fully employed and became absorbed in the population. He had lately received a letter from Mr. James GILMOUR, stating that that gentleman was willing to take an additional number of widows and their families, but there was only ane widow, named SHARKEY, with seven children, who would suit the gentleman mentioned. Mr. ASHE said that in the present state of society in England, this was a remarkable application. The clerk said that unfortunately the board had no power to grant any clothing to the parties leaving the house under such circumstances. The chairman said it was certainly a hardship that they could not do so. Mr. ASHE hoped the law in this respect would shortly be amended. The Admission of Paupers Was next proceeded with. Among others, Margaret SHEALS, with four children, applied for admission. She stated that her husband is a labourer in town, draws coals for the Messrs. WATT and earns plenty of money, but drinks all he earns and would not support his family. Mr. MACKLIN, the relieving officer, was ordered to have the woman's informations taken and have her husband prosecuted. Desecration of the Sabbath To the Editor of the Sentinel I beg, through your column, to call the attention of the authorities connected with the Port and harbour, to 7 Wm. III., c. 17, s. 1. which provides, "That no tradesman, artificer, workman, labourer, or other person whatsoever, shall do, or exercise any worldly labour, business, or work, of their ordinary callings upon the Lord's day, or any part thereof, works of necessity and charity only excepted." I allude to this, having observed yesterday at the public quays about eleven o'clock, a dozen of men drawing a cart laden with ropes, chains, &c., along the wharves, which they had evidently been using to unship a railway engine, or tender from the Scotch steamer. The tender was placed on a flat and I heard the men desired to return by twelve o'clock to take the flat up the river. This same work has been carried on for several Sundays lately. The engines or tenders are landed every Sunday morning and taken up to the Enniskillen railway. Is the business of such an urgent nature that it cannot be postponed till Monday? Yours, A. Citizen Presentation On Thursday last, a deputation from the parishioners of Glendermott presented the Rev. Henry DANFORD, late curate of that parish, with a gold watch and chain, in token of their high regard for his personal character and appreciation of his ministerial labours while among them. The presentation took place in the library of the news-room, Ship quay street. Emigration to America - The United Kingdom steamship This, the first steamship that has sailed direct from this port to Canada arrived in the roads on Saturday morning from the Clyde. The 'United Kingdom' is a very handsome and commodious vessel of 1,255 tons, register and is manned by a crew of sixty persons, under Captain FERRIER, an experienced and courteous commander. The passengers, who embarked at Belfast, appeared to have been in comfortable circumstances and of a superior class to the great bulk of emigrants which, some years since, took shipping at this port for America. The passengers expressed much satisfaction with the steamer and with the arrangements which had been made for receiving them. All the necessary arrangements having been completed, the 'United Kingdom', with (including those from Glasgow) 428 passengers and latest telegrams, proceeded at 1:30 p.m. The reverend gentleman deserves the compliment which has been paid him. His pulpit addresses were characterised by a spirit of fervent piety and earnestness for the spiritual welfare of those addressed, while we believe his other ministerial duties were in harmony with his sermons. We are much mistaken in Mr. DANFORD if he sets a high value upon the praise of men; yet the gift lately presented, evincing, as it does, the good opinion of individuals whose testimony is of some consideration, will, in addition to a sense of duty, cheer him, on in his new and extensive sphere of labour, at Letterkenny, to which providence has called him. Omagh Union The weekly meeting of the Board of Guardians of the Omagh Union was held in the board-room of the workhouse, Omagh, on Saturday last, 11th instant, at twelve o'clock. The following guardians were present; S. GALBRAITH Esq. J.P., chairman Samuel VESEY Esq., J.P. Major F. ELLIS J. P. Marcus GAGE Esq. J.P. Sir John M STEWART bart. J.P. A. C. BUCHANAN Esq. J.P. John ROGERS Esq., J.P. the Earl of Belmore J.P. George BUCHANAN Esq. (D.V.C) David LINDSAY Esq. James M'FARLAND Corry COULSON Matthew MOORE John MACKAY John BUCHANAN Claud HAMILTON David SCOTT James HAMILTON James MACKAY John JOHNSTON Archibald WARNOCK Fatal Accident A man named CRAWFORD, a farmer, residing at Laught, near Drumquin came by his death on Thursday last, by the falling of a large tree which he had been cutting on his farm. The tree fell upon him and crushed him dreadfully. He was conveyed to the Tyrone Infirmary, but expired in a few hours after his admission. Robbery of a Cash Box On Saturday last information was received at the constabulary station, Omagh, that a cash box containing a quantity of money, estimated at £50 to £100, had been stolen from Mr. Wm. CRAWFORD merchant, High street. It appears that Mr. CRAWFORD had been making some sales of agricultural seeds in a shop or store adjoining his principal place of business; that he had taken the cash box with him and had left it out of his hand for a short time and soon afterwards observed that it was gone. Two men have been arrested on suspicion, one of them a returned convict, but none of the cash has been as yet recovered. Gortin Petty Sessions A case against persons for a violation of the marriage Act having been postponed, Mr. James MATHEWSON, relieving officer of the Gortin Union prosecuted Charles HAGAN of Aldohal, who was brought up under arrest, for having deserted his wife and five children, thereby leaving them chargeable on the Gortin union. To be imprisoned for 2 months, with hard labour. The same complainant charged Catherine M'CONNELL, otherwise GALLAGHER of Aughnaneugen, for having deserted her infant of three months old, by which he has become chargeable on the Gortin Union. Committed to gaol for 3 months. Mary HARAGIN who is an inmate of the Gortin workhouse, presented herself before the magistrates with a baby in her arms for the purpose of declaring the name of the putative father of her child, but the magistrate declined to adjudicate in the matter until the amended act in the case, would become law. The case was postponed. Sarah M'CULLAGH of Drumnaspar, preferred a charge of assault against Mary TAGUE, or HAY. It appears that in this case, although a wall of 5 feet was built for the purpose of keeping the parties asunder, stones can be thrown over the wall, and one was actually thrown over and unfortunately struck Sarah M'CULLAGH, by which she received a contused wound on her head. Fined in 10s and costs, with a caution from the magistrates. Mr. William James ROBINSON, assistant County surveyor, prosecuted for breaches of the Road Act. Cases postponed, allow time for repairing the injury done. Mr. John Janice DANIEL of Cloughy preferred charges against Francis M'SORLEY and Michael M'CULLAGH, for disturbing spawning fish in the river at Gorticastle. Fined each in the sum of 10s. and costs. To be committed to Omagh gaol for 1 week in default of payment. Alexander M'KIMMON of Trinamadan, charged James MORRIS of Learden, for being one of a party who did waylay and assault him while on his way home from Gortin market. M'KIMMON identified MORRIS as one of the men who struck him. Dr. LEATHEM of the Gortin dispensary was examined as to the extent of the injuries received by M'KIMMON which he stated put his life in danger. sentence- Two months, with hard labour, in Omagh gaol. All the best~ Teena _______________________________________________ UlsterAncestry@cotyrone.com UlsterAncestry Mailing List Searchable Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/ulsterancestry@cotyrone.com/ https://lists.cotyrone.com/mailman/listinfo/ulsterancestry Website: https://cotyrone.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoTyroneIrelandGenealogy/
