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Irish Crime and Punishment - Executions, irish justice,gallows, folk lore.

13

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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    I ncame accross another reference in a rare book catalogue. This gives the motive of the murder of Mrs Hamilton by Ennis & Butterly as revenge suggesting Hamilton had replaced Butterly in Captain Pecks affections and given birth to his son.







    Author [Anon] Title A particular account of the cruel murder of Mrs. Thompson & in the city of Dublin Imprint Glasgow: John Muir Date of Publication c. 1821 Language English Notes Accounts of murders were a stock theme in 19th-century broadsides, the more gruesome and tragic the better. This moralising Glasgow broadside is based on an account in the "Dublin Journal" of the brutal murder of 19 year-old Mrs Thompson in the house of a certain Captain Peck in Portland Place, and would have been of interest to the large Irish community in Glasgow. Two servant women, Bridget Ennis and Bridget Butterly, appear to have worked together on a plan to burgle the house. During the robbery Mrs Thompson was murdered, apparently stabbed with a knife and beaten with a hot poker. The broadside typically focuses on Mrs Thompson's youth and beauty and the fact that she was the mother of a three week-old child. The author draws some comfort from the fact that the culprits were swiftly apprehended, Butterly having aroused suspicion by using a blood-stained £10 note at a local grocer's shop. The Library also has in its collections another broadside reporting the execution of Ennis and Butterly on 21 May 1821 and Butterly's public confession (shelfmark: L.C.Fol.73(20) - digitised on the Word on the Street (http://www.nls.uk/broadsides/broadside.cfm/id/14675/criteria/butterly)), which gives further details of the crime. Butterly was a former servant and lover of Captain Peck, who had a miscarriage when pregnant with his child and was later dismissed from service for speaking disrespectfully of "Miss" [sic] Thompson. Along with Ennis she decided to rob her former employer and to use the proceeds to flee to England. The women's motivation for the robbery as revenge on the predatory Captain Peck is thus made clear. Butterly's decision to murder Mrs/Miss Thompson, against Ennis's wishes, is seen as jealousy on her part, the victim being presumably Peck's mistress and the mother of his child. Shelfmark AP.4.208.13 Acquired on 02/05/07


    http://digital.nls.uk/broadsides/broadside.cfm/id/14675/criteria/butterly

    another sourse has their bodies being sent for dissection
    After hanging the usual time the bodies were
    taken down and sent to Surgeon's Hall to be
    dissected.

    A stray dog who wondered onto the place of execution was killed by soldiers


    A corps of Horse Police, on guard,
    amongst whom a poor inoffensive dog unfor-
    tunately took refuge, at this awful hour, ex
    cited their sport, and whom they cut in pieces,
    with their swords, each making a smash at it, as
    it ran moaning from the wounds it had receiv-
    ed ; pleasant diversion indeed for the hands
    of the preservers of peace to be engaged in

    A warning to young women who are ahem shown kindness
    Such is an account of this horrible transac-
    tion, and which strikes the mind with horror ;
    these two young females, in an evil hour, and
    with the temptation of gain, murdered the un-
    fortunate young lady, who, a few minutes be-
    fore, bad shown them the greatest kindness,
    and who never dreaded the errand upon which
    they entered the house, should operate as a
    warning to all young women, especially ser-
    vants, to beware of jealousy, and to be clear
    of ill-will to the persons whom they sus-
    pect of being their foes.

    Another broadside on a Limerick execution of Henry Stokes and Patrick Sheehan in the aftermath of 1798
    Author [Anon] Title A melancholy account of several barbarous murders & lately committed in the counties of Limerick, Clonmel, Kildare and Carlow Imprint Glasgow: T. Duncan Date of Publication [c. 1800] Language English Notes This is a rare Glasgow broadside outlining recent murders committed in Ireland by groups of "armed banditties". After the failure of the 1798 Rebellion pockets of armed resistance to British rule were still to be found in parts of the country, with gangs carrying out robberies and reprisals on anyone with loyalist sympathies. The main series of murders mentioned here were the result of an attack on the Boland family home in Manister, Co. Limerick in March 1800. (Justice in this case turned out to be swift and brutal: contemporary newspaper accounts subsequently record that the following month two men, Henry Stokes and Patrick Sheehan, were found guilty by a general court martial at Limerick of the murder of the male members of the Boland family. The men were hanged, after which their bodies were brought to Limerick and thrown into a mass grave, the 'Croppies'-hole', at the new gaol.) The broadside briefly refers to the "state of fermentation" in "that unhappy country" but is more concerned with stressing the barbarity of the crimes being committed and also alludes to the apparent complicity of the Catholic church in the outrages by offering absolution to convicted murderers. Shelfmark AP.4.208.12 Acquired on 02/05/07



    http://www.nls.uk/collections/rarebooks/acquisitions/index.cfm?startRow=211&SORTBY=acqdate


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    The Irish Free State was almost blase about executions in the early years of Independence (political stuff is covered elsewhere).

    The case that always comes to mind for me is Peter Pringle who was the last man to be sentenced to death in Europe.

    On July 7, 1980, Pringle stood in the dock of Green Street courthouse and heard these chilling words: 'You will be taken from this court to the prison in which you were last held, and on the 19th day of December in the year of our Lord 1980 you shall there be made to suffer death by execution in the manner prescribed by law.' By 1980 the more callous traditions that went with sending a man to the gallows were no longer in use - the judge didn't don a black cap to pass sentence of death anymore. Nor did he end his pronouncement by pompously proclaiming: 'May the Lord have mercy on your soul.' But none of that changed the fact that it was a death sentence - and Mr Pringle had been given one of the last handed down in this country.

    There was another problem: Pringle, who spent six months on death row before his sentence was eventually commuted to 40 years' penal servitude, had no involvement in the murder of two gardai for which he was convicted.
    It took him another 15 years to have his conviction overturned. And it was not until 1990 that the death penalty was taken off the statute books.
    Pringle, now 71 and living with another death row survivor, American woman, Sonia 'Sunny' Jacobs, has still not received a cent in compensation from the State.
    'I'm living proof that Judge Johnson is wrong,' he said. 'I am the only person sentenced to death in this country who has ever had their conviction quashed.
    'I am the only living person in Europe who has had a death penalty quashed, as far as I know. But the statistics across the boards, everywhere, show that at least ten per cent of the people being executed were innocent.


    http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_8002/is_2009_Nov_21/ai_n42269001/

    Ireland hadnt hanged anyone since the 1950's when Michael Manning of Limerick was executed in Easter week 1954 for killing a nun.
    It has always been a matter of great regret to me that it was not abolished in 1922. The Draft Constitution submitted to the Provisional Government and signed by Hugh Kennedy, C.J. France and myself, included a provision that the penalty of death shall not be attached to any offence. I discussed the matter with Michael Collins and he said that he would endeavour to get the Provisional Government to accept the abolition of capital punishment. Collins told me that he was opposed to the death penalty for treason and that he had an open mind as to whether or not it should be imposed for murder.1
    This quote from James Greene Douglas was made in Dáil Eireann in October 1951 by Seán MacBride, speaking on his motion that the Dáil appoint a Select Committee to examine and report on the desirability of abolishing capital punishment. MacBride had told the Dáil that he had received a letter supporting his move from Douglas, a Dublin Quaker businessman who had been a member of the Senate of the Free State

    Civilian executions were carried out for over 30 years following independence and this was one of the first
    the case of Felix McMullen, who had killed a civic guard in the course of an attempt to escape after a bank robbery in Baltinglass Co. Wicklow. McMullens defence was one of manslaughter and much of the evidence indicated this. His first trial was presided over by Mr Justice Thomas Lopdell O'Shaughnessy who had, rather bizarrely, been appointed to the High Court in 1924 at the age of almost 73, despite the fact that the Courts of Justice Act of 1924 had set 72 as the retirement age for judges. Manslaughter or not, McMullen was always going to hang for the killing of a police officer. The jury in the first trial failed to agree on a murder verdict, having been prevented by the judge from returning one of manslaughter, the judge reminding them that there was a court of appeal. The jury was clearly hectored, almost bullied, by O'Shaughnessy.11 Despite intense judicial pressure the jury refused to convict Felix McMullen of murder and was discharged. The re-trial was ordered by OShaughnessy for the next day and only under vehement protests by McMullen's counsel did the judge allow a 24-hour postponement. The second jury, given the stark choice of acquittal or conviction of murder, chose the latter, but entered a strong recommendation to mercy. There were petitions by the two juries that had tried McMullen, seeking a commutation of the death sentence and many other attempts to save him by appeal to the Government. All were unavailing, and McMullen was hanged on 1 August 1924. In the Dáil that same day Kevin O'Higgins was asked why the Government had not responded to the petitions from the juries to reprieve McMullen. The question was asked on behalf of Joseph McGrath, who had until recently been a member of the Government. O'Higgins was , stating simply that the juries were no longer such but twelve private citizens.12 http://www.ucd.ie/pages/99/articles/grundy.html

    I dont agree with Grundy here as taking a weapon itself to an armed robbery is premeditation.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    While browsing the internet I came accross a list of Irish Women Hanged -mostly for husband killing and with a partner.

    This is the list of women executed in this Country between the years of 1800 and 1923. I can’t do tabs and it reads Date of Execution, Name, Location, Crime.

    29th January 1800 Mary Connor Gallows Green Cork for murder

    17th April 1801 Elizabeth Burne Naas for murder.

    22nd August 1810 Mary Costigan Tipperary for murder.

    30th March 1811 Eleanor Shiel Tipperary for child murder.

    31st March 1813 Catherine Geran Limerick Burglary

    2nd April 1813 Catherine Donovan Gallows Green Cork Murder

    19th July 1815 Jane Mulholland Armagh Murder of her husband.

    4th August 1815 Honara Houraghan Gallows Green Cork Murder of her husband.

    10th April 1818 Mary Connell Gallows Green Cork Murder

    11th August 1818 Bridget Murray Cavan Murder of her husband.

    29th March 1819 Mary McGarry Downpatrick Child Murder

    14th March 1823 Mary Plunkett Trim Co Meath Murder of her husband.

    14th March 1822 Frances Gilligan Trim Co Meath Aiding in the above murder.

    23rd April 1823 Mrs McKinnon Dublin Murder

    16th August 1824 Esther Loughbridge Carrickfergus Murder of her sister in law.

    11th March 1825 Eleanor Ryan Limerick Murder of her husband.

    28th April 1826 Joanna Lovett Tralee Murder of her husband.

    17th March 1828 Mary Magrath Dundalk Murder

    22nd March 1830 Ellen Connell Tralee Murder of her husband.

    25th March 1830 Mary Kelly Kilkenny Murder of her aunt.

    31st March 1830 Jane Graham Carrickfergus Murder of her husband.

    31st March 1830 Mary Murphy Limerick Conspiracy to murder.

    13th August 1830 Bridget Brennan Tralee Murder of her husband

    24th August 1830 Margaret Clelland Downpatrick Murder

    18th March 1831 Margaret Mackesay Limerick Murder

    5th August 1831 Agnes Clarke Downpatrick Murder.

    6th August 1831 Judith Butler Clonmel Murder
    8th June 1832 Margaret Gunning Clonmel Murder.

    19th August 1833 Elizabeth Heaffy Cork Murder.

    17th February 1834 Maria Canning Dublin Murder

    13th March 1835 Lucinda Sly Carlow Murder of her husband hanged with male accomplice.

    7th August 1837 Mary Cooney Limerick Murder of Anne Anderson.

    1st May 1841 Mary Ann McConkey Monaghan Murder of her husband.

    7th August 1844 Catherine Bryan Roscommon Murder of her husband Patrick.

    7th August 1844 Bridget Lanigan Roscommon Murder of her brother in law above.

    21st March 1849 Jane Scully Roscommon Murder of Isabella Brennan (Hanged with a male co-defendant.)

    11th August 1849 Catherine Dillon Limerick Murder of her husband Daniel (Hanged with male co-defendant)

    27th July 1850 Bridget Keogh Ennis Murder of Arthur O’Donnell (Hanged with male co-defendant)

    10th May 1851 Catherine Connolly Cork Murder of Mary Morris

    29th April 1853 Bridget Stackpole Ennis Murder of her nephew James (Hanged with her husband Richard)

    29th April 1853 Honora Stackpole Ennis As above and the last woman to be publicly executed publicly in Ireland.

    9th January 1903 Mary Daly Tullamore Murder of her husband John. (Her co-defendant was hanged two days later)

    5th August 1925 Annie Walsh Dublin Murder of her Husband Edward. Her nephew and lover was executed on the same day. She was the last woman to be executed in Ireland.

    http://www.dunlaoghairecounty.ie/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=1023

    One that stands out is the fantasticly named Lucinda Sly who with her servant John Dempsey killed her husband Walter. Her ghost is said to haunt Carlow shopping Center.

    the Govenors house witch is now Cafe Le Monde
    Does Lucy Slye’s ghost still

    look down on the old gaol?

    ON that moment when her frightened body fell, when the rope tightened around her frail neck, what did Lucy Slye see? Or did she see at all?

    Crowds baying for blood, innocent or not, roaring, cheering her drop to death. She must have been a frightened soul, looking down from the gallows with her misty teary eyes. More likely, poverty was Lucy’s only crime.

    In the old gaol in Carlow, now Carlow Shopping Centre, the ghost of an unseen woman roams, caught between the world of reality and the other side. For this ghost, it is a lonely life.

    Dominic Peel, owner of Cafe Le Monde, is one who has felt this ghost’s presence, and he is convinced that it is Lucy Slye’s spirit who haunts Carlow Gaol.

    He has researched the details of this historic place, and he believes the “mysterious lady”, who frequents his premises, is the victim of a hanging, a person who garnered her last breath from the foul air in the hanging cell.

    “It was not uncommon in those days (the late 1700s to early 1800s) that a person was hung for stealing food,” said Dominic, noting that it is a little ironic that she now haunts the shopping centre where his restaurant is situated.

    Yet, Dominic has not felt any animosity from the ghost, who he described as “very playful”, although neither him or his staff will stay alone on the premises when darkness descends.

    The first time Lucy came to the notice of the staff of Cafe Le Monde was when some papers disappeared. Nothing unusual about that. Only that they reappeared on a table two weeks later.

    Still a little doubtful? As they do every evening, the staff brushed and mopped the floor, leaving the chairs up on the tables.

    Next morning, the staff arrived in bright eyed and bushy tailed, only to find that all the chairs were on the floor, and rearranged.

    There were other instances, as witnesses saw lights flashing upstairs from the ground floor. Indeed, Dominic told the story of getting “an eerie feeling”, as if being watched, while alone in his office one night. He left quickly.

    Perhaps one of the most amazing stories recorded was when an order arrived late one evening and the chef decided to unpack and sort it out in the morning.

    However, when the staff came in next day, they found that the goods had been put away in the kitchen. The chef thanked another member for doing the work, yet all the staff denied undertaking the task.

    Such deeds on the part of the ghost has left the staff unafraid, and indeed her presence in the shopping centre is often seen as a bit of a joke.

    “Now,” said Dominic, “whenever anything goes missing, they say go and check with Lucy.” But they will still not stay after dark.

    Dominic explained that the story goes that, before her death, Lucy put a curse on all successive governors of the old gaol that they would die young. Dominic added: “Thank God! I’ve seemed to have weathered the storm.”

    If the ghost of Lucy Slye is trapped between the four walls of Carlow Shopping Centre for eternity, who knows? Certainly, from the historical evidence, the gaol has had a chequered history.

    Public hangings were spectacles and entertainment of a sort.


    In an article entitled Carlow Gaol, writer Peter Thomas recounted the story of an English woman’s visit in the 1840s to Carlow, where she happened upon a hanging.

    She described the hanging as “a scene of wickedness and debauchery” and noted that many of the drunken spectators were being sold alcohol by “women of doubtful morals”. What would Galway District Court Judge Garavan say about that?

    Anyway, there are many horrific accounts of these hangings throughout history, with one priest protesting to the “noisy and boisterous” crowd to desist so the person being hanged could make their peace with God. Was Lucy Slye, believed to be the last woman hanged in Carlow Gaol, afforded this opportunity? Did she make her peace with God?


    Some accounts of Lucina Sly's story say that her husband was a brute of a man. It was her second marriage and her son was a policeman and before all this happened she even discussed the beatings with her clergyman.
    One man who knew the Slys and wasn’t afraid to speak out was the Rev. John Doyne.
    When examined by the Crown he was quite forthright in his testimony. “ I knew Sly about 12
    years”, he said, “and I knew his wife for the same time.” He continued:
    “ About five years ago she complained to me of the ill-treatment she received from her
    husband. He was a man of a most violent temper. She told me that upon occasion she was
    turned out without any clothing at night, and beaten with a horsewhip.”

    But then he was on fairly good terms with her son -a policeman so one wonders what really went on

    The day before the murder --Saturday, the 8 November 1834 -- was a fair day in Carlow
    town. She remembered it well, not least because she chanced to meet Walter Sly there.
    Walter was an acquaintance and, while at the fair, she spent a few minutes in his company.
    About 5 o’clock in the evening, she decided to leave the fair and made her way home out by
    Graigue and up the steep incline past Bilboa and Slievemargy right into the heart of Leix
    (then Queen’s County). Walter Sly and a companion named Ned Radwell, who was riding
    with him, overtook her, and they all rode together for some distance.
    Walter had the appearance of someone who had some drink taken, but there was nothing
    unusual about that. Most people left a fair with a little drink on them -- and there was nothing
    extraordinary about Walter’s behaviour. When Radwell fell behind, Walter got talking again
    to Francis. It was small talk, such as passes between people going the same road.
    He told her that he was on his way to dine at the police barracks in Bilboa with a young man
    named Thomas Singleton. Thomas Singleton was Lucinda Sly’s son by a previous marriage
    and was therefore stepson to Walter. Singleton was a policeman stationed at Bilboa and
    when the party reached Bilboa they joined Singleton in a public house and had a drink
    together.
    They talked about various things, Francis Campbell stating later that she never noticed
    whether Singleton carried a gun or not. She bid her company goodnight, saddled her horse
    and headed for home in the hinterland of Slievemargy. It was, she said, the last time she
    would ever set eyes on Walter Sly.
    When asked what kind of a man Walter was, she had no hesitation in replying that he was “a
    man of robustic temper”. Such was the language of the times, used no doubt to describe
    what was, perhaps, an independent self-assertive -- and probably an unhappy -- man. As to
    whether Walter ever spoke of his fear of being shot, she couldn’t venture an opinion,
    although he did once mention that his life was in danger. Persons named Brennan had some
    quarrel with him over land – and yes; he was a drinking man and yes; he was in the habit of
    carrying arms about his person.


    So on to the trial



    Both were charged with having conspired, aided and assisted in the murder of Walter Sly, at
    the Ridge of Old Leighlin on the morning of the 9th of November past (1834). A considerable
    amount of time was occupied in calling over the panel, which was ‘the most numerous and
    respectable we recollect’ for many years. During the reading of the Indictment, which
    contained eight counts, the prisoners stood unmoved, and pleaded not guilty. The son of the
    female prisoner by a former marriage, a young man named Singleton, who we understand is
    in the Police assisted throughout in the defence. Mr Job L Campion, the agent for the
    defence, and Mr Seeds on the part of the Crown challenged the panel on both sides, when
    the petty Jury was sworn (See Appendix A).
    Again we have an array of Carlow names and noticeable among them is Samuel Haughton,
    of the famous Haughton family, namesake to the man who scientifically studied the most
    efficient way to hang someone.
    In legal terms the case seemed simple enough, but depended upon the quality of the
    evidence given. Lucinda Sly was married and had issue by an earlier marriage. She then
    married Walter Sly and had no issue by her second marriage. Indeed, it was a lamentable
    fact that the second marriage was not a very harmonious one, each party, whether wittingly
    or unwittingly, made the other quite ill at ease about their home at Old Leighlin

    Dempsey was late 20's or 30 and she was aged betwen 54 and 60 and whether they were lovers or not it appears he was blackmailing her.

    One thing is sure; Walter Sly was very popular with the police. A couple of days before the
    murder another Sub-constable -- John James -- went out to Walter’s place to help him kill a
    pig. John Dempsey and Lucinda Sly were there. James happened to the in the dairy when
    he saw ‘ some symptoms of intimacy between the prisoners.’ More significantly, perhaps, he
    also ‘saw her‘ taking hold of his person’.
    It became clear from the tenor of the evidence that sexual impropriety, however undesirable,
    was not going to successfully drive the murder charge to conviction. There would have to be
    more substantial evidence present about the actual murder itself. And the Crown sought that
    assistance from the next two witnesses, Mrs. Bridget M’Assey and old Michael Connors,
    who were expected to provide that extra help that the prosecution needed to clarify the case
    for the jury.
    Bridget M’Assey and her husband lived ‘within two fields’ of Sly’s house and she claimed to
    have known both Walter and Lucinda Sly well. She recalled that the couple were very
    discontented ‘some nine years previously’ and Mrs Sly used to complain more recently to
    her.
    “When the turf was cutting last season,” she said, “Lucinda showed me the marks of a
    beating.” She also knew Dempsey, who was servant to the Slys. He was hired because -- at
    the time -- there was no female servant available. As a married woman, Bridget also thought
    it most improper of Mrs Sly ‘to go into a room with Dempsey and lock the door on herself’.
    She also saw her ‘frequently with her hands about Dempsey’s neck’. She also saw
    ‘transactions’ when she was getting the potatoes. The ‘transactions’ remained unspecified;
    but the court seemed to know what she meant.
    She also claimed that Lucinda told her that when Dempsey saw her get money, he would
    take it from her to buy tobacco. Indeed, according to the witness, he used to sell milk and
    butter for her behind Walter’s back. This left Mrs Sly short and witness used to give her
    some money.

    The execution and news reports


    The Kilkenny Journal (8 April) briefly described the event :
    At half past two o’clock the culprits were brought to the fatal drop in white linen dresses. A
    Protestant and Presbyterian Clergyman, the Rev. Mr. Hare and the Rev. Mr Flood attended
    Mrs. Sly. The female appeared almost lifeless, being with difficulty held in an erect posture
    by one of the Clergymen and the Governor of the Gaol, who were both obliged to assist the
    executioner in his part of the arrangements, otherwise she must have been strangled before
    she was turned off. —
    The Rev. Mr. Hume and the Rev. Mr. Duggan, R.C. Clergyman, attended Dempsey. He
    came forward to the fatal drop, with a firm step, and great apparent composure. He made a
    motion as if to say something, but from the great noise of the multitude, which was
    congregated to witness the tragic scene, he, at the instance of the Clergyman, gave up his
    intention, and in an instant both were launched into eternity.
    The wretched woman, as we are informed, previous to her execution evinced little or no
    symptoms of repentance, and appeared to be almost insensible to the awfulness of her
    situation, though the necessity of both was hourly impressed upon her by the Clergymen in
    attendance, and several humane ladies, who were in the habit of visiting the prison.
    Dempsey, on the contrary, before and after his trial, manifested the strongest desire of
    making peace with his God. He spent several hours daily in prayer and other religious
    exercise. He seemed perfectly resigned to his fate; and we have no hesitation assaying he
    died perfectly penitent.
    He was rather a well looking man, about five feet ten inches in height, remarkably well
    proportioned, and about thirty years old. Mrs Sly was probably double that age; it did not
    appear to be so much.

    What really happened from their confessions


    Prior to their execution the prisoners made the coveted admission of their guilt, and
    according to the Leinster Independent at the time, the real circumstances of the murder
    occurred in the following manner: -
    Sly, as appeared on the trial, was a man of very violent temper, and often beat his wife,
    without the slightest provocation. Dempsey lived as a servant with them, and had often to
    interfere between them. He generally succeeded in pacifying his master.
    On the morning of the night on which Sly was murdered – previous to going to the fair – he
    beat his wife, and promised her, on his return – to sue his own words – to make skillets of
    her skull. During the day Mrs Sly told Dempsey she was sure her husband would murder her
    some time -- which he had latterly become jealous of him; and would murder him also.
    On Sly’s return home he appeared rather in liquor, and before long commenced to beat his
    wife. Dempsey, as usual, had to interfere, and with difficulty succeeded in making peace. Sly
    then went to the fire, sat down, took off his leggings, and spurs, and fell asleep.
    Mrs. Sly subsequently went to a chest or bin, brought from it a hatchet, and placed it beside
    Dempsey, who was sitting on a settle bed, saying, and “now is your time to settle him.”
    He at first objected to her proposal, but finally yielded, and taking up he hatchet, went over to
    where Sly was sleeping, but upon attempting to raise his arm, felt himself devoid of the
    power. ~He returned back to the place where Mrs Sly was standing, saying he could not do
    it. She reproached him with his cowardice – he went as second time, and found himself
    equally powerless. She then said” give me the hatchet; I will do it myself.” –
    He gave it to her, but she instantly returned, exclaiming in an under tone, she could not do it
    either, and that he was no man. Dempsey roused by this observation, took the hatchet, the
    third time, went back again to where Sly was sleeping, and, raising his arm, struck the
    deceased a dreadful blow on the head, which instantly killed him –They then put on his
    leggings and spurs, and carried him out, and threw him at the stable door. Dempsey then got
    the pistol, and fired a ball through his head, and another through the door, to make it appear
    that t Sly was murdered in some other way.

    A full account of the trial is given here and it is well worth a read.

    http://www.praofi.org/vbulletin/archive/index.php/t-640.html

    It is worth noting that Walter Sly used to threaten his wife that if he died she would inherit nothing but his will gave her all except £10 to a nephew

    So it seems that it was a combination of things that brought it about.

    Carlow had a big population of Quakers at the time and some served on the jury - I get the feeling that there was some compassion for her but I would like to know more about her as a person.

    They seem like an odd couple and in an area like Carlow were unable to get a female servant.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    Back to Ireland after Independence.

    After the execution of Mary Daly and her lover in 1903 all 6 women sentenced to death between then and independence had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment.


    The last Irish woman to be hanged was Annie Walsh on August 5, 1925, for killing her husband. She was executed with Michael Talbot for the murder.

    Just to get back to some gender balance here- you also had some fairly awful crimes for which the death penalty was handed down.

    The last person to be executed in Ireland was Michael Manning, a 25-year-old carter from Limerick

    He was sentenced to death for the murder of Catherine Cooper, a 65-year-old nurse on November 18, 1953.




    MICHAEL MANNING

    APRIL 20, 1954, Mountjoy: Michael Manning, 24, for the murder by suffocation suffocation: see asphyxia. of Catherine Cooper, 60.

    Manning, a carter from Lelia Street, Limerick, was the last person to be hanged in the Republic.

    On November 18, 1953, he drunkenly raped and murdered Ms Copper, a nurse, on a dark country road.

    Earlier in the day, he had been drinking for several hours in different pubs in Limerick.

    He then made a delivery with his cart, put his horse out to graze and started off to walk home.

    At Newcastle, just outside Limerick, he saw Ms Cooper walking in front of him.

    He followed her for a few minutes, then he suddenly lost control and jumped on her.

    Manning pulled the nurse on to the roadside and raped her.

    Gardai later asked him why he did it. He replied: "Because I saw her alone."

    Manning said he stuffed his victim's mouth with grass to quieten her while he raped her.

    Ms Cooper, who worked in St Barrington's Hospital in Limerick, was found with her clothing torn and her underwear removed.

    The medical evidence, her death was due to asphyxia asphyxia (ăsfĭk`sēə), deficiency of oxygen and excess of carbon dioxide in the blood and body tissues. Asphyxia, often referred to as suffocation, usually results from an interruption of breathing due to mechanical blockage of the caused by suffocation. She had also lost several teeth.

    When Manning was first arrested at his home, he said: "Drink was the cause."

    Manning and wife Catherine had been suffering financial difficulties and were forced to live in a caravan.

    They managed to buy a home before the murder.

    The couple had a child which died shortly after birth.

    However, his wife was expecting another baby at the time of the murder.

    But after 8am on April 20, 1954, a Mountjoy warder pinned up a notice.

    It read: "The sentence of death passed upon Michael Manning was carried in to execution today.




    Murder in Navan

    "

    Lover shot his mistress as she lay in bed

    JOSEPH McMANUS

    MARCH 31, 1947: at Mountjoy: Joseph McManus, 41, for the murder of Alice Gerrard


    After the murder, Gardai and priests said it was "miraculous" the unlikely pair had ever crossed paths.

    Alice Gerrard lived with her mother Mary Scott.At that time Alice's husband . , whom she married in February 1942, was working in England, where he had been for some years.

    Joseph McManus was born in Gortoral, Co Fermanagh, in April 1905.

    In his youth he was thought to be "very wild".

    As soon as he could, he left school, took up farm work, and at the end of 1923 he left to join the British army .

    He returned in 1935 and worked for farmers in Fermanagh until the outbreak of war.

    McManus then he took up work in Swanlinbar in Cavan. And in 1943 he got married.

    A year later, in 1944, he left his wife and child in Swanlinbar and went to work as a farm labourer at Proudstown, Navan.

    He stayed there until May 1945, when he started another job as a builders' labourer in Flowerhill.

    He had been working for Laurence Rogers, a contractor, and had been living with him in a caravan.

    Rogers kept a double-barrelled shotgun and cartridges in his home.

    And every Friday he had cleaned the gun in front of McManus and other employees. It was in the course of this employment that McManus came to know Alice. They soon began an affair.

    She was a woman "known to be of easy virtue," according to Gardai.

    The priests and officers believed there were at least two people in Proudstown who were of "easy virtue" in 1945.

    But their affair did not go well. On October 5 Alice went to bed about 11pm with her son.


    She went to her daughter's bedroom, lit the lamp, and then saw Alice's lifeless body lying in the bed with her face covered in blood.

    She ran to alert neighbours about what had happened.

    An investigation showed that Mrs Gerrard had been shot by one discharge of a shotgun at around 2am.

    There was evidence of some association between the deceased and McManus, which supplied a motive for the killing.

    Pregnant wife poisoned

    POISON DEATH AGONY OF WIFE

    JAMES HERBERTLEHMAN

    MARCH 19, 1945, at Mountjoy:

    James Herbert (born 8 April, 1943, London) is a best selling English horror writer known for his simple yet compelling Lehman, 45, Canadian ex-soldier, for the murder of his wife, Margaret, 29, by poisoning her with prussic acid prussic acid: see hydrogen cyanide. at 11 Leinster Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6.

    James Herbert Lehman was born in Washington DC in 1899.

    In 1941 he was stationed with the Canadian Expeditionary Force


    It was also at Aldershot that Lehman met his third wife, Margaret Hayden, who came from Lippstown, Co Kildare.

    They were married in February 1940 and while in England had two children.

    In early 1942 he was discharged from the army as medically unfit and in August 1943 the Lehmans came to Ireland.

    The couple lived for a few months with Margaret's parents in a labourer's cottage in Co Kildare.

    They then went to Dublin where he persuaded colleagues to invest in a shop selling baby foods.

    The venture failed and he opened a coffee shop instead.

    On March 8, 1944, Lehman bought 150 grains of prussic acid - a deadly poison - from a chemist.

    A day or so later in the presence of his shop assistant he ground up a large white crystal into a powder and placed it in a small bottle.

    On March 18 his wife, who was in an advanced state of pregnancy, was observed by his landlady to be suffering from a cold. The next evening the landlady asked about Mrs Lehman's health and he said she was feeling giddy.

    Just 10 minutes later, he called to her that his wife was violently ill.

    She was taken by ambulance to the Rotunda Hospital The Rotunda Hospital (Ospidéal an Rotunda in Irish) is one of the three main maternity hospitals in the city of Dublin, the others being The Coombe and Holles Street. and was found to be dead on arrival.

    Examination of the organs revealed that she had died from prussic acid.

    Lehman then failed to keep an interview with police.

    And on April 14 he was discovered in Monaghan under the name of James McCague.

    He was tried three times before being found guilty of murder.

    Later he was sentenced to death but appealed against the conviction and sentence.

    The appeal failed and the date of execution was fixed for March 19, l945.

    Accussed of cheating at cards led to murder
    'CHEAT' KILLED FRIEND AFTER A CARD GAME

    WILLIAM GAMBON

    NOVEMBER 24, 1948: at Mountjoy: William Gambon, 28, for the murder of his friend John Long, 39, an English labourer, by hitting him over the head with a bar after a card game .

    William Gambon believed that John Long, his friend of five years, was very bad tempered.

    But two or three times in the 18 months previous to the murder, Gambon had brought his friend to his home in Dublin from England where he worked.

    They kept in touch with each other and Gambon used to meet him when he returned on holidays.

    Ten days prior to the killing he had written to Gambon informing him of his needs.

    Gambon met him at the boat at Dun Laoghaire.

    On Saturday evening, August 21, 1948 at 6:30pm, they took a bus back into Dublin and went to Gambon's home at 5 Upper Abbey Street

    Gambon told Long that he had got married and that his wife, who was staying with pals to accommodate Long's visit, was pregnant.

    He also explained that they were were in a poor financial position.

    Long offered him money, but Gambon didn't like the idea of borrowing money from anyone.

    As Gambon was playing cards playing cards, parts of a set or deck, used in playing various games of chance or skill. The origin of playing cards is unknown, and almost as many theories exist as there are historians of the subject. by himself, Long got into bed because he was very tired.

    Gambon said he would leave him to rest, but Long wanted him to stay on and play cards with him.

    They started playing pontoon pontoon, one of a number of floats used chiefly to support a bridge, to raise a sunken ship, or to float a hydroplane or a floating dock. Pontoons have been built of wood, of hides stretched over wicker frames, of copper or tin sheet metal sheathed over wooden at about a shilling
    Gambon had pounds 5 which Long had given him for the use of the room.

    After a while they began to play for higher stakes.

    Long was beginning to lose, and the game didn't finish until the early hours.

    By that time Long had lost about pounds 60 and was angry.

    He said Gambon had cheated, that he had worked very hard for the money, and that Gambon should give it back to him. Gambon agreed to give him back half.

    But he strongly denied having cheated.

    Long refused to accept the half, and started calling Gambon names and he also verbally abused his wife by calling her a prostitute.

    A row broke out. Long grabbed Gambon by the throat and Gambon retaliated by hitting him on the head with a bar.

    When he realised what he had done, Gambon gave himself up at Store Street Garda station.

    He told the authorities: "I took the bar in my hand and pushed him away from me with the bar back in the bed and after that everything went blank.

    "But I am sure that I hit him over with the bar as I saw blood and the bar in my hand."


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 19,986 ✭✭✭✭mikemac


    There was a video about Michael Manning on TG4 though I don't see it now

    http://live.tg4.ie/main.aspx?level=Bibs

    There are several old crime stories here
    As always, TG4 do a great job here


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    Noel & Marie Murray were sentenced to death and as it is said they were getting clemency whether they wanted it or not.

    They were anarchists and killed an off duty garda
    Programme 2: Garda Michael Reynolds

    Garda Michael Reynolds was the third garda to be killed in the era of the troubles. He was shot dead in St Anne's Park after a bank robbery in September 1975. He had been off duty, out shopping with his wife and daughter when he came across the raiders' getaway car. He fearlessly pursued the raiders and caught up with them in the park where he was brutally gunned down within earshot of his family.
    Marie and Noel Murray were later convicted of his capital murder, initially sentenced to death. On appeal and retrial they were convicted of murder and received the lesser sentence of life imprisonment. They later took an unsuccessful constitutional case for conjugal rights in prison.

    prog2a.jpg Vera Reynolds, widow of Garda Michael Reynolds

    prog2b.jpg Noel and Marie Murray


    Here is an excerpt from an anarchist book on-line and of course very little mention is given to the victim here.



    When the Irish resistance group had carried out a number of spectacular attacks such as those on the American and Spanish embassies, they turned to raising money by armed bank robbery, influenced by the whole record of diehard anti-State resistance which the Irish establishment enshrined as part of the national myth. They were heroic but unlucky and by the chance that inevitably accompanies such circumstances were arrested and jailed. How the Irish press howled for vengeance as a few young people were taken into custody and given savage sentences for a few illegal acts that did not entail killing. Never mind the IRA, these were self-confessed Anarchists! In Dublin! How terrible!
    The group who were arrested were charged with bank robberies, but nonetheless tried by a juryless court and confined in a military barracks reserved for political prisoners, though denied political status. Noel Murray jumped bail and he and his wife carried on the struggle.
    Noel and Marie Murray had collected money for the Black Cross (quite legally -- some of it was stolen by the Government when they were arrested) and so I knew them. I could have found them asylum if they had chosen to escape, as was easy at first provided they could get through the "Berlin Wall" of English Customs. I arranged a place for them to stay and work in Paris. It would have been hard for the Irish authorities to ask for extradition since they themselves ostensibly opposed it in far less overtly political cases than this.
    The plan was crushed by Noel and Marie themselves. Noel wrote that he did not think revolutionaries should leave their own country in this fashion, having regard to the consequent ineffectiveness to that country by thousands who had done so. In the course of another bank raid, a plain clothes policeman intervened. Marie, blind as a bat without her recognisable thick glasses, and having dropped her unaccustomed lenses, fired and accidentally killed him.
    Taken to a station, Noel and Ronan Stenson, arrested with them, were beaten and tortured so badly that Ronan was not in a fit state to be charged next day. It was a stroke of luck for him, as he was freed. Marie, in the next cell, confessed to the killing to get the police to stop beating Noel, pointing out the two had not been concerned in her careless act.
    Noel and Marie were charged with capital murder (murder of a policeman, as distinct from that of anyone rated much lower in the free and equal republic). Both were sentenced to be hanged (June 1976), but Noel's death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. Worldwide protests were caused by the death sentence on Marie, who had accidentally shot a policeman in plain clothes. Even Jean-Paul Sartre came to Dublin to protest at the sentence. The hypocritical Conor Cruise O'Brien, the English establishment's greatest living Irishman, stammered apologies for his government to hostile audiences in France. Finally the sentence on Marie was also changed to life imprisonment.
    Conor Brady, writing in the Irish Times (10 December, 1976), not only named the "Anarchist connection" but the Black Cross specifically, finishing his peroration with the statement that "undoubtedly Noel Murray started out as an idealistic young man. The question is at what stage did he trade in his principles of peaceful protest and take up guns? And perhaps more important, who gave him the guns and taught him how to use them?"


    http://www.anarchy.be/anarchie/teksten/murray.html


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    There was a video about Michael Manning on TG4 though I don't see it now

    http://live.tg4.ie/main.aspx?level=Bibs

    There are several old crime stories here
    As always, TG4 do a great job here

    They do - do you have any more .


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    Here is an interesting Dublin Historical Society piece from the lorist Patrick Byrne which includes miscellany on executions by John Toler - Lord Norbury who sentenced Emmet to death also was a working hanging judge who was cursed by the widow of one of his statistics.

    Prisons and ghost stories go together.

    http://www.askaboutireland.ie/aai-files/assets/libraries/dublin-city-public-libraries/reading-room/irish-language-legends/ghosts-of-old-dublin-1.pdf

    http://www.askaboutireland.ie/aai-files/assets/libraries/dublin-city-public-libraries/reading-room/irish-language-legends/ghosts-of-old-dublin-2.pdf


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    Queens County Murder from the files of the Leinster Express
    http://freepages.family.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mjbrennan/Murder_Queens_Co.htm
    Horrid Murder in Queens County
    [From the Atlas, Oct 6.]
    Ballina Chronicle
    Ballina, Mayo, Ireland
    Wednesday, Oct 10, 1849
    A correspondent of the Leinster Express gives the following narrative of a frightful crime committed in that province. His letter is dated Tolerton, Saturday evening;—

    TOLERTON, SUNDAY EVENING-
    "I have just attended an inquest in case of murder, compared to which in atrocity that of the Mannings sinks into the shade. It is not usual to have to record such darkly demonaic traits in the Irish character as that unfolded at this inquest, especially among the female portion of our peasant class, whose demeanour for modesty and womanly reserve has elicited warm eulogium from writers of every class and every country. The murdered in the present instance was husband, the murderess wife. She has not only been pronounced guilty by a coroner's jury, but has fully confessed her participation in the terrible tragedy.”
    In order to give the foul transaction in the smallest space, I condense the evidence.

    The Peasant and the Peasant Girl
    Catherine Thompson, an interesting peasant girl was wedded sometime ago to a person in her own class of life, named Patrick Moore. The marriage was not a happy one; the wife's prettiness had won her many admirers; and the result was, that a casual separation took place; the husband went to live with a relative of his, named Brennan, while the wife remained with her mother, at Tulla, in the Ballickmoyler district. Moore left for America, but on reaching Liverpool, he could not divest himself sufficiently of his feelings for home to prosecute his voyage; so he returned. On Sunday, the 2d of September, Catherine Moore sent out a young woman named Julia King over to Brennan's to her husband with a message, the substance of which was that she wished to see him on that evening. He came punctual to the assignation. Between ten and eleven o'clock on that night he was seen by two men leaning against a ditch, at the back of his mother-in-law's house in company with his wife.




    A Letter from America or was it ?









    After this night he was not seen or heard of in the neighborhood; he did not return to Brennan's; but a rumour was set afloat that he had left for America; and the following Sunday Mrs. Moore left Tulla for the ostensible purpose of joining him in Liverpool, in order that they might proceed together to New York. After she left, vague reports were circulated through the village, the people surmised strange things, and asked why the wife did not accompany her husband. These indications of the feelings of the neighborhood having reached H.B. Warburton, Esq., the Sub-Inspector, at Ballickmoyler, that gentleman immediately made particular inquiry into the matter and had the several coal pits in the district dragged but without any successful result.- While he was thus engaged a letter reached from a brother of Mrs. Moore, who resides at Dundalk. It purported that the writer had seen his sister and her husband off from Dublin on their way to America; that they were in good health and seemed perfectly reconciled to each other.

    An Inspector Calls

    This removed any lingering suspicion which remained on the mind of the intelligent sub-inspector. Thus matters remained until word was brought him, on Wednesday evening, that the body of a man, or something like it, was seen in a hole in the centre of the lonely bog of Rossmore, and the dogs had been devouring portions of it. He forthwith proceeded to the place pointed out, on Wednesday night; and in the middle of the lonely and wild bog of Rossmore, he perceived, by the glimpse of the moon, a mangled arm protruding from the depths of the bog-side. A stick was procured, the body was stirred, when a most revolting spectacle presented itself. A human head started out of the water; the nose and one of the cheeks had been cut off, the eyes were gone, and the face was otherwise fearfully mutilated. On examination the limbs were found to be very much mangled, and the body in a state of putrescence and decomposition.
    To remove these hedious remains of mortality was a matter impracticable at that hour of the night with the assistance Mr. Warburton had; so he left his companion to keep watch while he drove off to Tulla, which was seven miles distant, it having struck him that the mutilated body in the bog must have been that of the missing Patrick Moore. When he reached Moore's mother-in-law's house, he made fresh inquiry as to where Mrs. Moore and her husband were; the confusion and prevarication that ensued confirmed him in his idea of there being foul play. He then secured the attendance of a person who knew Patk. Moore, and could identify the body, if it was his. On returning to Rossmore bog with this man and a reinforcement of police, they raised the body out of the hole; while doing so, it fell into piece meal, and the loathsome members had to be placed in bags. The remains were immediately identified. On being removed towards Tulla, it was met by a procession of colliers, who placed the fragments of the body in a coffin, and bore it onward with marks of deep sorrow for their murdered comrade.
    Wife, Mother, Sister & Brother in Law Arrested



    I omitted to mention that in the morning, a sub-inspector had placed the mother-in-law, brother-in-law and sister-in-law of the deceased man under arrest. A jury having been collected, the body was viewed by them, and after a minute examination by Dr Samuel Edge, it was consigned to mother earth.
    The assistance of the coroner, Thomas Budds, Esq., could not be procured until to-day (Saturday) his duties in Mountmellick and elsewhere having precluded his attendance at Tolerton sooner. The jury having been sworn, held the inquest at Grave's public-house. Several witnesses were examined, and from them were elicited the facts just stated. The most remarkable part of this dark tragedy remains to be told. Never was the mysterious ways of Providence made more manifest in bring retribution home to the heartless murderer in this case. On the morning of the inquest who should return from Liverpool than Catherine Moore; she had come home with a pitiful tale of how her unnatural and brutal husband had deserted her on the quay of Liverpool, leaving her a lonely and unfortunate woman to beg her way home. Her astonishment-her horror, on hearing of the discovery of the mutilated remains of her husband, operated so strongly on her feelings, that she confessed her guilt, and all the appalling circumstances connected with it. It seems Moore's brains were beaten out on the night he was last seen with his wife; and that on the next day this wretched woman and her mother dislocated the limbs, so as that they may be fitted on an ass's car-being concealed by straw, they then proceeded to Rossmore bog, which was seven miles distant, and in the loneliest part of that lonely place they flung their gore-clotted burden into an unclean hole.

    Mother and Daughter Commited for Trial


    The jury, after some brief deliberations, found a verdict of wilful murder against Catherine Moore and Bridget Thompson, mother and daughter.
    Mr. Budds drew up a committal for them accordingly, and they are to be transmitted to the county jail at Maryborough, there to await for trial until next spring assizes. The principal evidence against these wretched women will be supplied by two persons connected with them by the closest ties of sanguinity.
    In closing this report, so illustrative of how far truth may be stranger even than fiction, it is but justice towards the sub-inspector, Mr. Warburton, to remark that his exertions in pursuing this horrible tragedy through all its dark details, deserve the highest commendation. On expressing our astonishment at the coincidence of the women, after an absence of nearly four weeks returning to the very spot where 12 men were holding an inquest on the putrid remains of the man whom she had murdered, we were informed that Mr. Warburton, not being able to discharge from his mind the impression of Moore's murder, wrote to the man with whom he had stopped during the previous trip to Liverpool, and who had been a friend of his, to ask if he and his wife had arrived safe? and inquiring if he was aware of their getting off to America as the neighbors were anxious to hear of their welfare. Mrs. Moore happened to be at the time and inmate of this very lodging-house at Liverpool; the man read the letter for her. She expressed her uneasiness and said she should return home, as something must have happened to poor Pat. She accordingly left Liverpool for Tolerton and reached at the very crisis when her presence was necessary for the fulfilment of the ends of justice.--Leinster Express.

    The Case, Defence & Verdict




    Their marriage had failed and they were living apart – but for Catherine Moore that wasn’t enough. She wanted vengeance on her husband Patrick. With honeyed words, the promise of a good bottle of Irish whisky, and a sharp knife concealed in her blouse, she lured him to a stretch of lonely bogland and murdered him.
    Patrick Moore’s body was found a month later, by which time his wife had fled to England. But when the police arrested her mother and sister and charged them with the murder, Catherine returned to Ireland to face the rap.
    She and her mother, Mrs. Bridget Thompson, were brought to trial in March 1850, when Catherine pleaded guilty to murder and her mother was given a life sentence for being an accessory after the fact.
    Catherine told the court that her husband had made her life a living hell, because he was always drunk and violent. The evidence suggested that the murder was carefully premeditated. She had plied him with whisky to get him drunk, then stabbed him, and finally strangled him. She was hanged on Thursday, April 11th, 1850, outside Maryborough Prison. The town of Maryborough was renamed Portlaoise after partition in 1922.
    http://www.truecrimelibrary.com/crime_series_show.php?id=273&series_number=3

    The Sentence
    Date - 11/04/1850
    Name - Catherine Moore
    Place of execution - Maryborough
    Crime - Murder - husband


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    MarchDub wrote: »
    Are you referring to Brehon Law? It was in common usage in Ireland until 1603 - in spite of various previous attempts to ban it. It was a system based, among other things, on paid compensation - and not prisons.

    Something that has always confused me has been about the death penalty at Brehon law.

    But it did and there were procedures where a person could be lawfully killed.

    Here is something I have come accross.




    Eric or Compensation Fine.—Homicide or bodily injury of any kind was atoned for by a fine called Eric [errick]. The injured person brought the offender before a brehon, by whom the case was tried and the exact amount of the eric was adjudged. Many modifying circumstances had to be taken into account—the actual injury, the rank of the parties, the intention of the wrong-doer, the provocation, the amount of set-off claims, &c.—so that the settlement called for much legal knowledge, tact, and technical skill on the part of the brehon—quite as much as we expect in a lawyer of the present day.
    In case of homicide the family of the victim were entitled to the eric. If the culprit did not pay, or absconded, leaving no property, his finè or family were liable. If he refused to come before a brehon, or if, after trial, the eric fine was not paid by him or his family, then he might be lawfully killed. The eric for bodily injury depended, to some extent, on the "dignity" of the part injured: if it was the forehead, or chin, or any other part of the face, the eric was greater than if the injured part was covered by raiment. Half the eric for homicide was due for the loss of a leg, a hand, an eye, or an ear; but in no case was the collective eric for such injuries to exceed the "body-fine"—i.e. the eric for homicide.
    The principle of compensation for murder and for unintentional homicide existed among the Anglo-Saxons, as well as among the ancient Greeks, Franks, and Germans. In the laws of the English king Athelstan, there is laid down a detailed scale of prices to be paid in compensation for killing persons of various ranks of society, from an archbishop or duke down to a churl or farmer; and traces of the custom remained in English law till the early part of the last century.


    How the death penalty was practiced





    Modes of Punishment.—There was no such thing as a sentence of death passed by a brehon in a court of law, no matter what the crime was: it was always compensation; and the brehon's business was to determine the amount. Capital punishment was known well enough, however, and practised, outside the courts of law. Kings claimed the right to put persons to death for certain crimes. Thus we are told, in the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, that neither gold nor silver would bo accepted from him who lighted a fire before the lighting of the festival fire of Tara, but he should be put to death; and the death-penalty was inflicted on anyone who, at a fair-meeting, killed another or raised a serious quarrel. We have seen that if for any cause homicide was not atoned for by eric, then the criminal's life was forfeit.


    Methods of execution /punishment under Brehon law




    Various modes of putting criminals to death were in use in ancient Ireland. Sometimes they were hanged. Sometimes the culprit was drowned by being flung into water, either tied up in a sack or with a heavy stone round his neck.
    Where the death penalty was not inflicted for a crime, various other modes of punishment were resorted to, though never as the result of a judicial process before a brehon. Blinding as a punishment was very common, not only in Ireland but among many other nations. A very singular punishment was to send the culprit adrift on the open sea in a boat, without sail, oar, or rudder; as, for instance, in case of homicide, if it was unintentional. A person of this kind cast on shore belonged to the owner of the shore until a cumal was paid for his release.

    http://www.libraryireland.com/SocialHistoryAncientIreland/I-IV-6.php

    I just wonder if there are written sources with examples of these.

    Behon Ireland was not such a hippy loved up place as some like to portray.


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,991 ✭✭✭mathepac


    Eamonster wrote: »
    ... I must have a look for the graveyard in Merrion Row, because that's where Darkey (or Dorcas) Kelly was buried back in the 1760s.
    That was my neck of the woods and the only cemetery I remember on Merrion Row is the 17th Century Heugenot Cemetery beside the Shelbourne, directly across the road from the Bank of Ireland (whose official address is given as St. Stephen's Green although the building is on the corner of Merrion Row and St. Stephen's Green).

    As a kid I was told there was a place of execution and a burial site around Ely Place (turn right off Merrion Row heading for Baggot Street) bit I've never been able to trace it.

    There's any number of candidates for a Gallows Hill (which I've never heard of in the locality) as the land and the canal locks follow the drops, dips and slopes from Dolphin's Barn all the way down to the Grand Canal Basin.

    Travelling from St. Stephen's Green via Merrion Rom and Lower Baggot Street to Baggot Street Bridge there's a gradual rise until you dip down sharply into Upper Baggot Street and on down into Pembroke Road, so more potential candidates that way.

    Another bit of information which seems to further evidence foe the location of the gallows hil / mount - "The name of Mount Street is thought to have been derived from a mound which once stood at the corner of Fitzwilliam and Baggot Street, where a gallows was erected for the execution of criminals. The name Baggot comes from the medieval Manor of Baggotrath, owned by the Bagods" - http://www.peppercanister.ie/history/


  • Registered Users Posts: 27 Eamonster


    Ely Place? You know the Danes when they first came here in the 8th and 9th centuries, erected a gallows east of Stephen's Green so it could have been around there.
    I think you're right about the Hugeonot cemetary being the candidate for Kelly's resting place.
    And that reference from Pepper Cannister history would be spot on for the location of the Gallows, because I compared Rocque's map of 1759 with a modern map of Dublin and the gallows would have been around the Baggot Street and Fitzwilliam Street crossroads. Some people say it was around Lad Lane but I think that's a bit off the mark.
    There was also a hanging tree in Stephen's Green of all places. Imagine going there for a public execution and then feeding the ducks and grabbing a coffee afterwards? Ah yes, all in a Sunday's afternoon ramble in order to get away from the grim reality of life ;o)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm




  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    Here is an article from 1879 New York Times describing Irish Public Executions that the writer had witnessed in his youth.

    The writer told his audience that they had become squeamish and told his readers how a condemned mans legs were smashed on a bothched first attempt so they hauled him back up on the gallows , sat him on a chair , and hanged him again.
    EXECUTIONS IN IRELAND; HOW THEY WERE MANAGED IN THE PAST. PRESENT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LAWFUL MODE OF TAKING MEN'S LIVES A NUMBER OF RECENT MURDERS OTHER TOPICS OF CURRENT INTEREST.




    [ DISPLAYING ABSTRACT ]
    DUBLIN, Aug. 30. As death by the hands of the common hangman becomes a less common occurrence among us, we are growing more and more squeamish as to the manner in which criminals are hurried into eternity according to law. Time was, and not so very long ago...


    http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00C1EFB345B137B93C6A81782D85F4D8784F9

    Full Article Here

    http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F00C1EFB345B137B93C6A81782D85F4D8784F9

    Read about the execution of an army pensioner in 1868 for murdering a prostitute where the story went around that an amateur hangman (a doctor) tested a small rope which decapitated the prisoner.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    barneshead.gif

    Donegals Barnesmore Gap is one of the most unlikely execution spots - I drove thru it and there was nothing -but in the 18th century you had raparees and highwaymen plying their trade and meeting a grisly end there.



    barnesmore1.jpg
    barnesmore3.jpg
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    An early photograph of Barnesmore Gap
    Barnesmore Gap today
    Barnesmore Gap is that big opening between Croaghconnelagh (Connall's mountain) and Croaghonagh (Owen's mountain). Here in this very fine mountain pass the traveller is absolutely shut in between these two great hills as he wends his way along a really excellent road that traverses the gap.
    barnesmore.jpg [SIZE=-2]Click to view[/SIZE] These are rugged and gaunt grey mountains which, from a distance, give off a hue of blue, and for three miles on either side the traveller is between massive cliffs and yawning rents cut by streams racing down the mountain and falling into the noisy Lowerymore river. This river keeps company with the main road as far as Lough Eske where it joins the River Eske.
    From this description by Patrick Campbell one would think Barnesmore Gap was a wonderful place for travellers. For centuries the Gap has been a strategic gateway between northern and southern parts of County Donegal. But Barnesmore was also, in other days, a place of sinister repute. For several hundred years up to about 1800, it was the notorious haunt of brigands, highwaymen and raparees who waylaid, robbed and murdered travellers.
    barnesbridge.jpg
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    Pat Kelly of Cashelnavean tells us that all the way down into the Gap was covered with trees and shrub wood and there was nothing but a bridle-path going through the place. This foliage was cut down as the robbers used to pounce out of the undergrowth and have the travellers robbed before they knew what had happened to them. It became so perilous that from the mid 1700's a garrison of Red Coats was stationed at the Ballybofey end of the Gap to ensure the safety of travellers.
    A report in the Derry Journal of early July 1773 reads…
    "On the 29th of June 1773 a young gentleman who was on his way from Sligo to Derry was attacked in the Barnesmore mountains by two ruffians armed with hangers. Endeavouring to defend himself his whip was cut right through with one stroke and his horse deeply wounded. However on recovering a little from his surprise he fired his pistol at the villains and clapping spurs to his horse he fortunately got clear of them without damage." The following year a report in the Journal described an attack on James Ferguson…
    On Wednesday last, the 1st inst., as Mr. James Ferguson, shopkeeper in the town of Donegal, was coming to Ballybofey he was attacked at the Bridge of Barnesmore by two men and a woman. They first stabbed his horse, and then himself, with a knife, and dragged him some distance off the road, when they cut open his saddle-bags, and from thence took 68 guineas in gold, 10 English shillings, 24 ounces of broken silver, and two silver watches.
    Providentially the horrid transaction was discovered by a boy who was looking after some cattle on the mountain; otherwise Mr. Ferguson might have soon died of his wounds without any assistance, and the robbers escaped justice; but the same day, they with two of their accomplices, were taken at an alehouse not far from the spot where they committed the cold deed, and all committed to Lifford gaol. Mr. Ferguson's recovery is very doubtful, and the horse is dead. (Derry Journal, June 7, 1774.)
    Following this attack, five persons, four men and one woman, were arrested, charged with the robbery and were tried on the 22nd August 1774 at the Assizes held at Lifford.
    The Derry Journal gives us this account of the proceeding…
    On Monday last, the 22nd inst., at the Assizes held at Lifford, for the County of Donegal, Patrick Gordon and Henry O'Neil were tried and found guilty of robbing Mr James Ferguson, of the town of Donegal, and sentenced to be hanged on the 8th September next, at the bridge of Barnesmore, the place where the robbery was committed. At the same time, the wife of the said O'Neil was also tried for robbery, and found guilty; but she having pleaded pregnancy was examined by a jury of matrons, who gave their verdict that she was pregnant, whereupon her sentence was postponed until after her delivery. The other two men who were tried for the same robbery were acquitted. The sentence passed on Gordon and O'Neil was duly carried out, as is proved by the following entry in the Grand Jury Record Books for the year 1775…
    "We present £10 - 0s - 0d of the County(funds) to be paid to Peter McDonagh, Gent., late sub sheriff, for transmitting Patrick Gordon and Henry O'Neil, to the Bridge of Barnesmore, where they were hanged."
    barnesmoremap.gif
    An interesting sequel to the arrest and conviction of Gordon and the two O'Neils, and the information that Mr Ferguson probably recovered from the attack, is apparent in the following notice published by the Grand Jury in August 1774…
    "Whereas the uncommon Honesty and spirited Conduct of the Family at the Lough House on the Mountains of Barnesmore deserves every Mark of Approbation for their Behaviour, in so zealously exerting themselves in apprehending the Perpetrators of a Robbery and cruel intended Murder, for which three of them were at the, Assizes capitally convicted; We, the Grand Jury and Gentlemen of said County, think it incumbent on Us to give them this public Mark of our Approbation, together with a pecuniary Reward, which, We hope, will be an Example and Encouragement to all such People to assist and bring to Justice every Person who shall so grossly violate the Laws of their County."
    Lifford, August 24, 1774
    William Burton, Foreman, and Fellows (of the jury).

    This capital punishment for robbery carried out on Gordon and O'Neil did not deter others from committing robbery in the Gap for at the Assizes held at Lifford in August 1775…
    "A man named McMinnaman (McMenamin) was tried for robbing a servant man at Barnesmore, and sentenced to be executed some day newt December" (Derry Journal, Sept. 22. 1775.) We presumed that the sentence was carried out in the Gap in December 1775.
    mourne1.jpg [SIZE=-2]Click to view[/SIZE] In 1780, Prionnsias Dubh Mac Aodh was the Captain of a gang of twelve who robbed the rich to feed the poor and his favourite haunt was the Gap of Barnesmore. Two of the gang, named Cassidy, were hanged in Barnesmore and Prionnsias Dubh was made to stand trial in Lifford and was also sentenced to be hanged.
    Executions took place at the gap for a number of years before a more permanent gallows was built. Pat Kelly of Cashelnavean tells us the story of three sheep stealers…
    "There were three men hanged down at the bridge before you go into the Gap. They were hanged for sheep stealing but they were innocent. The gallows wasn't there then and they were hanged off three trees in that area." The following extract from the Lifford Grand Jury Books may be seen in the County Library:
    "We present £7. 10s. of the Savings of the County-at-large to Thomas Young, Esq. Of Loch Eske to reimburse him for the like sum expended in building the Gallows at Barnesmore." (The year was 1777). In an account given by Caesar Ottaway, when passing through the Gap in 1839, he mentions the ruin of a barracks at the Northern end of the Gap. It is believed that the military outpost or redoubt was set up here about 1750. The company of Red Coats stationed here were used to patrol the Gap to keep the robbers and raparees away.
    barrackhill.jpg [SIZE=-2]Click to view[/SIZE] Pat Kelly of Cashelnavean tells us that one night two women rushed into the barracks and said that a big gang of robbers had just held up some travellers down in the Gap. All the soldiers ran for their horses and galloped off like blazes down the brae and into the Gap and while they were away the two women held up the guard and robbed the barracks. The two women in question were really raparees dressed in women's clothes.
    The area above Barnes Bridge, around the site of Elvin's house, became known as Barrack Hill. It is probable that this hill may have got its name from the red Coat Barracks which was abandoned circa 1800 when a more substantial Red Coat Barracks was set up in Stranorlar.
    gallows1.jpg
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    In recent years, the remains of the 18th Century Gallows was still to be seen as one goes down into the Gap from Ballybofey. It was situated on Elvin's land on the left hand side and about 150 yards in from the road at Barnes Bridge. It may be possible, with reasonable accuracy, to pin-point the site of the Gallows and mark the place in a suitable way which would be of interest to both locals and tourists alike.
    Have a pleasant journey on your next trip through 'The Gap'.
    Text: © Stranorlar Parish Magazine 2002


    http://www.finnvalley.ie/places/barnesmore/index.html


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    In September 1882 Francie Hynes a Solicitors son was executed in Limerick for taking part in Land League outrages .

    Here is an autobiographical poem he wrote the night before his execution.
    Chapter 5: The Exeution of Francis Hynes, Limerick, September 1882

    Francis Hynes
    Within my prison cell I sit penning down those saddening lines,
    My age is scarcely twenty-four, and my name is Francie Hynes.
    For the awful crime of murder, I am condemned to die,
    But I will meet the scaffold without a sob or sigh.
    I know that tears of sympathy from many an eye shall fall,
    But one request I have to ask of friends and brothers all,
    Let no man call me murderer of friends I humbly crave,
    When I am cold and silent within my prison grave.
    A Dublin Orange jury on that Memorial Day, mad drunk and blind with fury,
    they swore my life away,
    But I’m prepared to meet my fate, no tear will dim mine eye,
    I never injured any man,
    I swear by God on high.
    My friends, they sought for my reprieve, but eloquence could not avail,
    They will hang me in the morning in Limerick County Jail.
    I give my blessing to my friends who beside me stood,
    There’s no more hope, they’re thirsting for my blood.
    My mother who watched me in my tender years,
    Oh, joy she’s gone before me,
    Her form, it now appears as if in childhood’s happy day,
    she did me fondly clasp,
    Little she thought she reared me for the hangman’s grasp.
    But I’m prepared to meet my fate,
    No danger will I falter
    For innocence will triumph o’er bloody hitch and halter,
    And when the star of peace will shine again as in the good old times,
    Let Irishmen remember the fate of Francie Hynes.
    Written by Francis Hynes, son of James Hynes, solicitor, and Elizabeth O’Connell Hynes, the night before his execution in September 1882 aged, 24 years.
    Found in 1953 amongst family papers of Francis (II) who was a son of Maurice Hynes (brother of Francis Hynes).
    .

    The crime that he was accused of

    September 11th
    11/9/1882
    Francis Hynes – Limerick



    Farm worker John Doloughty, 60, father of seven children, went into Ennis, County Clare, to attend lunchtime mass and as he walked back home he was ambushed and shot in the chest and head. The shots blew away both his eyes and he died next day.
    Doloughty’s body was discovered immediately after the shooting by a passer-by, who, looking around for clues, heard a rustle in the bushes and recognised Francis Hynes, 25, holding the murder weapon. Hynes fired at the witness, but only wounded him, while other passers-by jumped on the gunman and disarmed him.
    Hynes bore a grudge. Accused of poor management, he had been evicted from the farm where Doloughty worked. A known troublemaker, he had been one of a gang that had recently destroyed property on the farm at Moyresik, two miles from Ennis.
    He was hanged by William Marwood at Limerick Prison on Monday, September 11th, 1882. The Irish Republicans did not like Marwood, and the hangman was accompanied to the prison by six English and two Irish detectives after threats were made to him.

    http://www.truecrimelibrary.com/crime_series_show.php?series_number=3&id=420

    The jury got drunk and did not contain any catholics
    Newspaper: New Zealand Tablet, (published Dunedin) Date: 20 October 1882 Article: News in Brief The committal to prison of Mr Edmund Dwyer Gray, of which Wednesday’s mail brought us the full particulars, has certainly been chief among the many extraordinary and high-handed things done in Ireland throughout the agitation. A Mr William O’Brien, it seems, who was a resident in the Imperial Hotel, wrote a letter to the “Freeman” complaining that on the night before the jury had returned their verdict of Guilty in the case of the Queen versus Hynes, they had conducted themselves with gross impropriety, behaving riotously until a very late hour in the hotel where they were supposed to be kept apart for the consideration of their verdict. The Solicitor-General accordingly, in the Commission Court before Judge Lawson, moved for an attachment against Mr Gray, both because of the publication of the letter in question and certain articles commenting upon the selection of juries, from which Catholics had been rigorously excluded

    It is reputed that on the train to Limerick the executioner William Marwood with chatted with Hynes sister
    Marwood, James: previously a cobbler from Horncastle, England, was Lord High Executioner during the 1870’s-1880’s. In 1879 he was reported to be between 55-60 years of age. In 1882 Marwood travelled on the mail train to Limerick. A friendly conversation developed between him and a young lady civil servant. When they arrived at Boher about 8 miles from Limerick Marwood left the train. The poor girl only learned afterwards that the man she had been chatting to was the hangman on his way to Limerick to hang her brother Francis Hynes. At this news she fainted.

    The execution itself.



    Newspaper: The Clare Record Date: 12 September 1882 Article: The Execution of Francis Hynes Yesterday morning Francis Hynes paid the highest penalty that the law imposes, for the murder of the unfortunate Doolaghty, near Ennis, on the 9th of July last. The morning was one of the finest which came for the past year - a fine glorious sunshine, a bright unclouded sky - all was warm and beautiful as our representative wended his way towards the County Gaol, where the culprit lay awaiting execution. From the appearance that the City presented at six o’clock in the morning the visitor would not imagine that in two short hours from that time, a young man, of splendid physique, full of youth and health, would be done to death at the hands of the public executioner. But notwithstanding appearances, the fact was that Francis Hynes would, at 8 o’clock, be executed by Marwood. As our reporter approached the County prison, a small knot of the lower classes were collected on the footway opposite the upper end of the gaol, while doubled sentries walked round the square, which the outer walls of the prison form. On the roads encircling the gaol fifteen constables, under the command of Constable Kavanagh, were on duty. The utmost precautions were observed by the authorities to ensure the safe keeping of the prisoner, and the due execution of the sentence of death which had been passed upon him. At about 6.15 am eight men of the 70th Regiment marched into the precincts of the gaol with loaded rifles and bayonets fixed, and in a short time afterwards a large body of constabulary, under the command of Sub-Inspector Henry Wilton and Head Constables Rolleston and Phelan, and accompanied by Mr Bourke Irwin, Resident Magistrate, who had command of the troops and police, marched from William Street barracks and halted in front of the main entrance to the prison. As the police marched to the prison the military guard turned out and presented arms. The main body of the constabulary were then marched into the prison, while two parties patrolled the road outside.
    At 7 o’clock crowds of people commenced to flock towards the gaol, and half an hour subsequently there were over a thousand persons present. The majority of the persons attending were of the lowest classes from the dens of the City, from the reeking cellars, and the dark alleys and nameless haunts. They came in all their repulsiveness and wretchedness for the purpose of gratifying a morbid feeling of curiosity and being near the scene of the execution of a fellow creature. But to their credit be it said there was a total absence of profanity and obscenity which formerly disgraced public executions when the full tide of life eddied and poured in rapid currents through the streets to witness an execution. The demeanour of the crowd yesterday was exceptionally good, and nothing was heard but prayers for the future happy state of the prisoner who was about to be executed. The most wretched and debased creature present had an anxious look on his countenance and there was a solemnity in the perfect silence that reigned supreme that told well for these poor people.
    Marwood arrived in Limerick by the 1.30 mail train on Saturday morning and was escorted by a guard of constabulary to the County Gaol where he has since remained. Marwood is a man of about five feet seven inches tall, slight build, sharp features and eyes restless in their gaze. He is an enthusiast in his profession which he states he made a science of, and the persons whom he executed have no pain whatever. To use his own words” “I have studied my profession that a man dies at my hands with as little pain as I give myself by touching the back of my hand with my finger.” At 5 o’clock young Hynes rose and dressed himself with scrupulous care in a borrowed tweed suit. He ate a hearty breakfast and appeared to be in good spirits, considering the awful fate which was so soon and so suddenly to overtake him. He was a man of about 23 years of age, 6 feet 3 inches in height, of athletic appearance, well made and had very handsome features, and was entirely unlike a man who would be guilty of the foul deed for which he was to suffer death. He conversed freely with the warders who were constantly with him in his cell, and remarked yesterday morning: “I don’t care what they do with my body, but may God have mercy on my soul.”
    His demeanour while in the custody of the Governor was a model of propriety and his manners to the ministrations of the Roman Catholic chaplain was marked by a sincerity which was becoming to his position.
    At 7.30am the Sheriff for the County Clare entered the condemned cell and informed the unfortunate man that his hour was come, and in about five minutes afterwards Marwood appeared and pinioned the prisoner. The chaplain who had been with him since an early hour, and who appeared to be deeply affected, then handed the culprit a crucifix which he devoutly kissed. At 8.15am a procession was formed, two Roman Catholic clergymen leading and repeating the litany of the dead. Next followed the doomed man with a warder on each side. He walked firmly with his head erect and his eyes intently gazing on the crucifix, and his voice in response to the prayers of the clergymen “Lord have mercy on us, Christ have mercy on us” was clear and distinct, and yet marked with a religious awe and fervour. Then followed the Governor, and Deputy governor of the gaol, the Sheriff of the County Clare, and then Marwood. In that order the procession moved at a slow pace, the chaplain saying the prayers for the dead, the convict articulating the responses in a clear voice without a tremulous note. His bearing was firm and dignified, and without ostentation or bravado, winning the sympathy and approbation of everyone who beheld him, and subsequently called forth from the lips of Marwood feeling words of sorrow at the untimely end of such a fine looking young man. The sentries ceased their walk, and the other lookers-on at the dread spectacle stood aside with tears in their eyes, with heads bowed in sorrow, and a deep momentous silence prevailed. Not a lip moved, the bystanders barely breathed as the solemn voice of a priest repeating the litany of the dead was heard, and the head of the procession became visible.
    The convict was deadly pale; his eyes wandering alternately from the clergymen to the body of soldiers and constabulary who were drawn up in the courtyard of the prison, and then he would lift his eyes to heaven and his lips send forth a solemn prayer to the almighty God. A partition running parallel to the inner wall hid the scaffold from the unfortunate man, who, as he approached it, seemed to endeavour to pierce the structure. After a lapse of 15 minutes this partition was reached by the head of the procession, and the door in the structure was thrown open. The drop was reached by a short stair which the convict ascended with firm step. From a crossbeam descended the treacherous rope, and under this was placed the unfortunate man. The clergymen still performed their religious duties, and still the voice of the convict was heard in response. Then Marwood stepped forward, placed the noose around the condemned man’s neck, pulled a thin white cap over his ashen face, and then stooped and tied his feet securely together. The pinioning of the arms allowed his hands to clasp his crucifix. Marwood was then seen to leave the presence of the convict, who stood for a moment before the persons present. The bolt was drawn and Francie Hynes was launched into another world. A black flag was hoisted on the prison tower denoting that the execution had been carried out. Marwood afterwards remarked: “I never executed a finer man, nor a man with so much nerve. He walked to his doom with the utmost composure and I cannot but admire him”.
    The chaplain who attended him in his last moments afterwards appealed to the congregation in St John’s Cathedral to pray for the soul of Francis Hynes, who, he believed, died innocent of the crime for which he was convicted. Still more convincing is the hint in Marwood’s own complimentary remarks, altogether out of character, that he believed in the innocence of Hynes.
    Marwood left Limerick for the last time in the same manner in which he entered - by the back door. The covered mail was again brought into requisition to convey him to the deserted platform of Boher Station to catch the night mail to Dublin.


    Some say he knew the name of the killer


    )
    Newspaper: The Limerick Reporter Date: Unknown Article: Leader, by Maurice Lenihan The imputed irregularities of the jury, the objectionable manner in which they were chosen, the stern determination of the Crown to carry to an end the fiat which had gone forth...called forth on every side an expression of intense dissatisfaction and dismay which it is possible to describe and which gives to this case a complexion which places it among the causes celebres of Irish history. The identity of the real murderer will probably never be known. A fairly common tradition held that Francis Hynes offered himself for the fate that should have awaited a kinsman who was the father of a young family.

    http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/delahunty/chap5_francis_hynes_execution_1882.htm


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    Dublin city in the rare old times

    Truth about Darkey kelly, burned as a 'witch' 250 years ago ... but who was really a serial killer


    By Alan O'Keeffe

    Saturday January 08 2011

    A MACABRE anniversary this week marked the gruesome public execution of a Dublin woman whose reputation in the city's folk memory has just been debunked.
    For generations, Darkey Kelly was regarded as a woman who was burned at the stake for witchcraft after she accused the notorious Sheriff of Dublin Simon Luttrell of fathering her baby.
    But new research has revealed she may have been Dublin's first female serial killer.
    In fact, she was executed for the murders of at least five men whose bodies were found hidden in a brothel she owned in Dublin. It was widely accepted she was executed in 1746.
    satanic
    But the actual date of her public execution has now been revealed to be January 7, 1761 -- the 250th anniversary of her public burning at the stake was yesterday. She was partially hanged and then publicly burned alive in Baggot Street in the city.
    The amazing true version of the events will be broadcast as No Smoke Without Hellfire on Dublin South 93.9 FM Community Radio on Wednesday next, January 12, at 4pm.
    Producer and presenter Eamon McLoughlin told the Herald he was fascinated by new evidence unearthed during research work. His fellow researcher Phil O'Grady made the discovery while examining contemporary newspaper accounts in the National Archives.
    Mr McLoughlin said: "This series debunks the tale, passed on down the centuries, that Simon Luttrell, known as Lord Carhampton, was the principle cause of her execution."
    Popular belief held that Darkey Kelly, whose real name was Dorcas Kelly, ran the Maiden Tower brothel in Copper Alley, off Fishamble Street. She was supposed to have become pregnant with the child of city sheriff Simon Luttrell, a member of the infamous Hellfire Club, and demanded financial support.
    Folklore maintained he responded by accusing her of witchcraft and of killing her baby in a satanic ritual even though a body was never found. She was burned at the stake. Part of this version is contained in a mural in the modern-day Darkey Kelly pub in Fishamble Street.
    Newly revealed contemporary accounts reveal the real Dorcas Kelly was actually accused of killing shoemaker John Dowling and investigators then found the bodies of five men hidden in vaults in her brothel. Prostitutes reportedly rioted in Copper Alley following her execution.
    Mr McLoughlin said: "Women in 18th-century Ireland were second class citizens and the execution of prisoners reflected that blatant sexism.
    "Men found guilty of murder were just hanged, whereas women were throttled first, then burnt alive."




    http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/truth-about-darkey-kelly-burned-as-a-witch-250-years-ago-but-who-was-really-a-serial-killer-2489044.html



    McLoughlin is scraping it with the misogyny here.

    You had hanged drawn and quartered where after being half hanged various body parts were sliced off and roasted in front of the criminal.
    1580: Daniel O'Neilan p., O.S.F. -- fastened round the waist with a rope and thrown with weights tied to his feet from one of town-gates at Youghal, finally fastened to a mill-wheel and torn to pieces, 28 March. He is obviously the person whom Mooney commemorates under the name O'Duillian, assigning the date, 22 April, 1569, from hearsay;

    http://juventutemireland.blogspot.com/2007/03/irish-confessors-martyrs-1540-c1713.html


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    Not many people know it but Grangegorman also served as a prison

    Irish Female Convicts in Prison in Dublin Ireland: 12 years old and Sentenced to 7 yrs Transportation to Australia.


    Irish female children as young as 12 years old were transported to Australia as convicts on board the convict ship the John Calvin Irish children as well as women were also sentenced to transportation to Australia and were on the convict ship The John Calvin in 1848 when it left Dublin Ireland bound for Hobart Town in Australia.
    All women and children prisoners from around Ireland who were sentenced to transportation to Australia went to this Dublin prison first. They had to spend three months at Grangegorman Female Penitentiary in Rathdown Road, Stoneybatter Dublin 7 before they were transported to Australia as convicts. .
    The centralisation of all convicts who received a sentence of transportation to Australia was necessary at the time. The authorities in Australia complained to the British Government. They had reported that the female convicts who had already arrived at Hobart had no skills and therefore had no way of supporting themselves once they arrived in Australia.
    So the British Government decided to gather up all the female convicts who had been sentenced to transportation and were in prisons all over Ireland. They were sent to the prison in Grangegorman Female Penitentiary, Stoneybatter Dublin 7 where they had to spend three months preparing for transportation. They were to be trained in skills that would allow them to be sent out to work for the free settlers in Australia as part of their sentence.
    This rule applied to young children under sentence of transportation who were also female.
    About fifty cells were used exclusively for these convicts. They did not mix with ordinary prisoners. They exercised and ate separately. Their training consisted of sewing, knitting, cooking and laundry service. It was designed to give them the skills needed by them when they would arrive in Australia as convicts and be assigned work duties as house servants.
    Up till then the women were put in the jails in Australia and left there for years because they were not capable of outside work. The free settlers would not take them on. This was costing the Australian Authorities out in Hobart a lot of money because the convicts had to be housed, fed and guarded in the prisons.


    3741065_f520.jpg






    Young Irish children on board the convict ship the John Calvin

    Irish children were also sentenced to transportation to Australia and were on the convict ship The John Calvin in 1848 bound for Hobart Town in Australia.
    The four youngest prisoners each sentenced to seven years transportation to Australia were:
    Mary Ryan age 12 Crime- Larceny Convicted in Waterford
    Mary Jane Movraw age 14 Crime- Larceny Convicted in Antrim
    Bridget Haughegan age 15 Crime- Larceny Convicted in Galway
    Margaret McConnell age 15 Crime-Larceny Convicted in Down



    http://hubpages.com/hub/Grangegorman-Female-Penitentiary-Stoneybatter-Dublin-7-female-convicts-transportation-to-Australia



    3741089_f496.jpg

    I am sure I have driven past this -its down from North Circular Road near Phoenix Park


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    In 1763 on the way the the scaffold an irishwoman Hannah Dagoe got loose nearly throttled the hangman and ..........here is her story

    dagoe.gif



    HANNAH DAGOE Sentenced to Death for robbing a Poor Woman. She struggled violently with the Executioner on the Scaffold, 4th Of May, 1763
    Illustration:
    Hannah Dagoe resisting execution


    WE have adduced many instances of the hardness of heart, and contempt of the commandments of God, in men who have undergone the last sentence of the law; but we are of opinion that in this female will be found a more relentless heart, in her last moments, than any criminal whom we have yet recorded.
    Hannah Dagoe was born in Ireland, and was of that numerous class of women who ply at Covent Garden Market as basket-women, to the excusion of poor Englishwomen. In the pursuit of her vocation she became acquainted with a poor and industrious woman of the name of Eleanor Hussey, who lived by herself in a small apartment, in which was some creditable household furniture, the remains of the worldly goods of her deceased husband. Seizing an opportunity, when the owner was from home, this daring woman broke into Hussey's room and stripped it of every article which it contained.
    For this burglary and robbery she was brought to trial at the Old Bailey, found guilty, and sentenced to death.
    She was a strong, masculine woman, the terror of her fellow-prisoners, and actually stabbed one of the men who had given evidence against her; but the wound happened not to prove dangerous.
    On the road to Tyburn she showed little concern at her miserable state, and paid no attention to the exhortations of the Romish priest who attended her. When the cart, in which she was bound, was drawn under the gallows, she got her hands and arms loose, seized the executioner, struggled with him, and gave him so violent a blow on the breast that she nearly knocked him down. She dared him to hang her; and in order to revenge herself upon him, and cheat him of his dues, she took off her hat, cloak and other parts of her dress, and disposed of them among the crowd. After much resistance he got the rope about her neck, which she had no sooner found accomplished than, pulling out a hand kerchief, she bound it round her head and over her face, and threw herself out of the cart, before the signal was given, with such violence that she broke her neck and died instantly.
    This extraordinary and unprecedented scene occurred on the 4th of May, 1763.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    Ten spooky spots where executions took place in Ireland - PHOTOS

    Locations around Ireland where criminals were executed publicly

    By BRYAN FITZGERALD
    , IrishCentral.com Staff Writer



    Published Saturday, April 2, 2011, 7:58 AM
    Updated Saturday, April 2, 2011, 11:08 AM




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    Kilmainham5-thumb.jpg Kilmainham Gaol



    SEE PHOTOS - Top spots for public scenes of execution in Ireland
    Read more: Top ten must see places in Ireland - PHOTOS
    Crime in Ireland was punishable by death for centuries. These criminals were executed in public for all to see for in various ways for various offenses. Today, capital punishment is no longer legal in the Republic of Ireland and has been abolished since 1990.

    Here are ten places in Ireland where Public Executions did at one time take place:

    1. Market Square, Clonmel
    At this site, William Smith O’Brien, found guilty for attempting to help incite a rebellion against the English with the Yound Irelanders near Ballingarry, was sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered in 1848. This was the last occasion such a sentence was handed down in Ireland.

    2. Gallows Green, Limerick

    This execution spot has a long history in Ireland. It dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries where Catholic priests were hung for their religious beliefs. Bishop Terrance Albert O’Brien, for one, was hanged and beheaded here on the 30th of October 1651.

    3. Gallows Hill, Kilkenny
    This site was located within the county infirmary of the time. It became a spot for hanging dating back to 1767.

    4. George’s Hill, Dublin

    Today, it is known as the site of the George’s Hill Presentation Convent dating back to 1794. However, this spot is where Christians were executed and martyred for centuries prior.

    5. Harold’s Cross Green, Dublin

    The name was derived from the one given to the gallows. The archbishop maintained the punishment here in the 14th century. Harold’s Cross served as an execution ground for the city of Dublin through the 18th century and earlier.

    6. Kilmainham Common, Dublin

    The Kilmainham Gaol, or prison, was erected here in 1786. It was known as the Irish Bastille and today is a museum. Its most famous prisoners include nationalists and freedom fighters Robert Emmet and Eamon De Valera.

    7. Knockcroghery, Roscommon

    The city was named after a hanging. Originally known as Cregann, its named changed in the 16th century after a group of Irishman who resisted the Bristish invasion of their town and were hanged.
    To mark this act of courage the village became known as “Knockcroghery” (“Cnoc na Crocaire”) or “The Hill of Hangings."

    8. St. Stephens Green, Dublin
    A very popular spot for executions in Dublin, the convicted were imprisoned, whipped, hanged, pilloried, strangled and burned to death. Between 1780 and 1795 244 people were hanged.

    9. In front of St. Catherine’s Church, Thomas Street, Dublin
    Robert Emmet was infamously executed here by beheading in 1803. A plaque commemorating the event can be found there today.

    10. Wexford Bridge
    A notorious massacre took place here in 1798 as thousands of local loyalists were executed by United Irishmen on the bridge in the town center.
    SEE PHOTOS - Top spots for public scenes of execution in Ireland

    http://www.irishcentral.com/roots/Ten-spooky-spots-where-executions-took-place-in-Ireland-119113299.html


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    My grandfather was a Peace Commisioner and used to issue search warrants etc.

    Lots of crimes have ordinary people involved and here is one that stands out because of how mundane the situation was.

    I often think nowdays that a lot of convictions would not be made if the conviction would result in a hanging but also that others would be made as a human life was valued differently and the facts were looked at.
    BY MICHAEL TRACEY on the Laois Nationalist
    IT was a tale of murder most foul that gripped the country and centred around one Laois man.
    In January 1939, James Dermot Smyth from the Rushes, Wolfhill, was executed by hanging after he was convicted of the murder of a Cork butter buyer. The victim, Cornelius Dennehy, was found dead in his car near The Swan having been shot in the head at close range.
    The pair were well known to each other and Smyth had even described Dennehy as his “best friend”, so the crime became known as the “best friend murder”. The grisly incident is the subject of an episode of TG4’s Ceart agus Cóir series on the death penalty in Ireland.
    The programme, featuring research of newspaper articles and court and prison archive, as well as other public records, will be shown on 4 February.
    At the time, Smyth was 33 and married with a toddler daughter. He lived in a cottage and farmed 130 acres owned by a cousin. He had attempted the buy the farm but the deal had fallen through despite hefty solicitors’ fees.
    Smyth was said to be fond of drink and was well known around the pubs of the area. His wife, Mary, kept rigid control over the purse strings, however, leading Smyth to habitually borrow money if he wanted drink.
    The victim, 34-year-old Cornelius Dennehy, from Millstreet, Co Cork, was well-liked during the five years he had lived in De Vesci Terrace, Abbeyleix, where he was known as “the butter man”.
    Dennehy travelled regularly to fairs in the midlands and his Ford V8 car was a familiar sight on local roads. It was widely known, including to Smyth, that he carried large sums of money with him on his travels.
    On the morning of 17 August, he set out for Tullow where he was due, as usual, to meet a dozen or so butter sellers.
    Dennehy’s route from Abbeyleix to Tullow would have taken him through The Swan Crossroads, then on to Doonane Crossroads, Newtown Cross and Tullow.
    John Doyle, who worked at Swan Fireclay factory at The Swan crossroads, about a mile from where the shooting took place, said that at about 10.20am, he saw Dennehy driving slowly past in his Ford car. They saluted each other. Doyle was the last person to have reported seeing Dennehy alive.
    The Ford car was seen parked awkwardly on a lonely road near The Swan. Passers-by ignored it as there appeared to be no one in the car. That evening, Patrick Kelly, another clay factory worker, passed the car at about 8pm and looked in the passenger rear door but did not see anybody. He went around and looked through the window of the driver’s door and saw a man in a crouched position. It was only when he opened the car and put his hand on the man’s leg to shake him that he realised he was dead.
    Although Cornelius Dennehy had been shot at close range there was no significant singeing and there was no gun at the scene. There were signs that the murderer had tried to set the car on fire.
    The petrol cap had been removed and there was a bloodstained, burnt match at the scene. Robbery was the obvious motive as Dennehy’s wallet was missing.
    His injuries were described as horrific. He had been shot on the right side of the head.
    The blast had nearly taken it entirely off his shoulders. According to the state pathologist, Dr John McGrath, the base of the skull was “extremely fractured” and remnants of the brain were splattered across the front seat. Dr McGrath said the fatal shot was fired by a single-barrelled gun.
    Fifty gardaí were involved in the case and the investigation drew widespread media coverage. Smyth, at one stage, was said to have been seen in the background in one of the press photos taken at the scene.
    During the investigation, gardaí interviewed Smyth who said he had been on the road to visit a friend on the day before Dennehy was killed.
    However, it appears Smyth’s wife told gardaí that the day after the murder she had to give her husband a clean collar because he had blood on the one he was wearing.
    When gardaí returned to Smyth’s house, Smyth went over to the sergeant’s car and remarked: “Wasn’t I an idiot to be at The Swan on Thursday with blood on my neck?” He showed the sergeant small cuts on his arms that he said he got them cutting scallops.
    On 25 August there was a breakthrough in the case as the suspected murder weapon was found in a hedge a mile away from the killing.
    Evidence would show that it had been recently fired. The gun was identified as belonging to the Fitzpatricks who had loaned it to Smyth three weeks before the killing. Smyth said he had wanted to shoot a cat.
    Two days later, Smyth was cautioned and gave a sworn statement.
    The day before the killing, witnesses saw Smyth at the place, known as “Patsy O’Neill’s gate”, where the car and body of Cornelius Dennehy would be found the next day.
    Smyth said that on the morning of the murder he cycled into Crettyard, stopping at two pubs for a drink before going home at lunch time. He added he had not carried or used a shotgun for about 14 or 15 years.
    When he was searched, a wallet containing a bundle of six £5 bank notes was found on him. These would be linked to Dennehy in the prosecution’s case.
    The trial opened on 21 November 1938 and lasted for eight days. This was one of the longest murder trials in Irish legal history to that point.
    It was referred to as the trial of the year, with over 100 witnesses called. After Dennehy’s death, Dermot Smyth described him as his “best friend”.
    This assertion appeared at odds with Smyth’s statement that he had only gone for drinks with him a few times.
    Smyth admitted in his statement that he was on the road where Dennehy was killed the day before the murder.
    A witness, John Poole, who met Smyth on the day before the murder, said he saw what he took to be a gun, with a canvas bag, in the ditch beside Smyth. Smyth argued it was a wooden lath in the canvas bag, which had resembled a gun parcel.
    The motive put forward by the prosecution for the murder of Cornelius Dennehy was robbery. A key issue, therefore, was whether Smyth was struggling financially.
    The prosecution highlighted that Smyth borrowed money a number of times in the run-up to the killing. On the day of the murder, Smyth was alleged to have spent around £41.
    The prosecution outlined payments made by Smyth in the days after the murder. He sent £24 in notes to his cousin in Dublin to clear the debt that he owed on some farm stock. The amounts mentioned compared very closely with the amount thought to be missing from Dennehy.
    Defence counsel argued that the defendant was a man of substance but that the prosecution was trying to portray him as someone who “led a strange and peculiar life”.
    The prosecution put forward a number of witnesses who claimed that Smyth was on the stretch of road where Dennehy was killed at about the time he was killed.
    The evidence of two local children was important. They lived near the scene of the killing. The pair said they saw a man cycling in the direction of The Swan at 8am. Sometime around 10.30am they heard a car up the road brake suddenly and make a screeching sound. Five minutes later they heard what they thought was a shot.
    They looked up the road and saw a car parked facing a gate and a man taking a bicycle from the ditch and cycle away in the direction of The Swan. As the man passed them, they noticed a parcel attached to the cross bar and that his hands were red. The children subsequently picked Smyth out of a police line-up.
    The defence said that the children were imaginative and impressionable. The defence also argued that the children identified Smyth because he was the only person they had known in the identification parade after being prompted by gardaí.
    The defence put forward their own witnesses to try to prove that Smyth was in another place at the time of the killing.
    They added that Smyth thought the gun was in his house. It was argued by the defence that the gun may have been stolen by some tinkers who were around the house in the previous couple of weeks.
    Judge O’Byrne, in his summing up, concluded that it was reasonable to assume that this was the murder weapon. He said it was also “most unusual to hear of tinkers stealing or being in the possession of firearms”.
    The driver’s door of the car had some fingerprints in blood. Inspector Harry McNamara, a fingerprint expert, went into the dock and sat beside Dermot Smyth. He examined fingers on the defendant’s right hand closely and said he was satisfied beyond doubt that a print on the car had been made by Smyth’s right ring finger.
    Of the six notes found on Smyth when he was arrested, four were bloodstained, however, Smyth said in evidence that he had cut his arms and hands. Smyth was also found in possession of sequenced bank notes matching notes issued to Dennehy at a bank in Midleton.
    In evidence, Smyth answered question after question without hesitation over three days. Smyth said Dennehy had given him money; a fact which had not been in his original statement.
    The defence argued the case had been prejudiced by media intrusion.
    PJ McEnery said: “The newspapers have been blazoned with the facts, details and circumstances of the case from the state point of view and I will take the opportunity of saying that, by reason of one-sided publicity, Dermot Smyth has already been convicted in the public mind”.
    The huge public interest in the trial continued right to the day of the verdict, which saw remarkable scenes even for the courthouse at Green Street, Dublin, the scene of many famous cases, with gardaí closing off the street due to the size of the crowd.
    In summing up, the judge said the evidence was circumstantial but there were a number of inconsistencies in the defence’s case. After the jury returned a guilty verdict, Smyth was said to have paled visibly.
    When he was sentenced, Dermot Smyth replied: “I am condemned. My next judge shall be my creator. He will prove me an innocent man and I hope and pray that the murderer of Cornelius Dennehy will be got after, to clear my name, so that no man can ever say of my child that her father was a murderer.”
    This was not to be the case. Smyth unsuccessfully appealed and a widespread petition that was presented to the government also failed to earn him a reprieve. He was executed at Mountjoy Prison on 7 January, 1939.
    The Smyth episode of Ceart agus Cóir will be broadcast on 4 February at 10.15pm.

    http://www.millstreet.ie/blog/2010/01/30/the-cornelius-dennehy-murder-trial


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 172 ✭✭DUB777


    While were on the topic of execution
    Execute Brian Cowen, Bertie Ahern, Liam Carroll, Paddy & Simon Kelly, Sean Fitzpatrick, Drumm, Gannon, the 'financial regulator' the whole lot of them that are involved in this "economic downturn".


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    DUB777 wrote: »
    While were on the topic of execution
    Execute Brian Cowen, Bertie Ahern, Liam Carroll, Paddy & Simon Kelly, Sean Fitzpatrick, Drumm, Gannon, the 'financial regulator' the whole lot of them that are involved in this "economic downturn".

    Ah well. Banking crises and fraud in the 19th Century was an issue.

    Do you know of any cases and prosecutions ?

    Here is one such guy-John Sadleir -its from Wikipedia but the general facts are ok.
    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


    John Sadleir in about 1856
    John Sadleir (1813 – 17 February 1856) was an Irish financier and politician.
    He entered the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1847 as a Member of Parliament for Carlow. Sadleir co-founded the Catholic Defence Association in 1851 and was one of the leading figures in the Independent Irish Party which held the balance of power in the House of Commons when it formed in 1852.[1]
    He went on to hold minor office in Lord Aberdeen's coalition government from 1852 through 1854. He resigned his ministerial position in 1854 when he was found guilty of being implicated in a plot to imprison a depositor of the Tipperary Bank because the individual in question had refused to vote for him.
    By February 1856 the Tipperary Bank was insolvent, owing to Sadleir's overdraft of £288,000. His own financial affairs were ruinous, and in his efforts to solve his problems he milked the London Bank, ruined a small Newcastle upon Tyne bank, sold forged shares of the Swedish Railway Company, raised money on forged deeds, and spent rents of properties he held in receivership and money entrusted to him as a solicitor. In this way he disposed of more than £1.5 million, mainly in disastrous speculations. Unable to face the consequences, he committed suicide near Jack Straw's Tavern on Hampstead Heath on 17 February 1856 by drinking prussic acid. The Times reported that "[t]he body of Mr J. Sadleir M.P. was found on Sunday morning, February 17th on Hampstead Heath, at a considerable distance from the public road. A large bottle labelled "Oil of Bitter Almonds" and a jug also containing the poison (prussic acid) lay by his side."[2] His brother James Sadleir, also an MP, was found to be deeply implicated in the fraud, having conspired with his younger brother. He was expelled from the House of Commons on 16 February. He fled to the Continent, settling in Zurich and then Geneva. He was murdered there in 1881 while being robbed of his gold watch.
    John Sadleir was buried in an unmarked grave in Highgate Cemetery.[1

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Sadleir

    Here is a bit on his brother James

    Entry to politics

    James Sadleir was approached to stand as a Liberal candidate for the Tipperary constituency in the 1852 election and initially refused, but was eventually induced to accept; he was formally nominated by the incumbent, Nicholas Maher, and was elected easily.
    He supported the idea of religious equality in Ireland, although without much enthusiasm for the Roman Catholic priests in his county who passed a vote of censure in April 1853. His brother served in Lord Aberdeen's government as a Junior Lord of the Treasury from December 1852 to January 1854 when he resigned, having been implicated in an attempt to imprison a depositor of the Tipperary Joint Stock Bank who had refused to vote for him.
    [edit]Banking scandal

    The scandal that led to both of their downfall arose through the crash of the Tipperary Bank in February 1856. The Bank's London agents, Glyn and Co., refused to pay on draughts of the bank, returning them with the words "not provided for". The Bank of Ireland continued to pay as usual for a week more, resulting in a rush of investors withdrawing their money there. Then, on 17 February, John Sadleir, who had been the principal creditor of the bank, committed suicide on Hampstead Heath. He sent a suicide note to James' wife Emma which read "James is not to blame–I alone have caused all this dreadful ruin. James was to me too fond a brother but he is not to blame for being deceived and led astray by my diabolical acts. Be to him at this moment all the support you can. Oh what I would not suffer with gladness to save those whom I have ruined. My end will prove at least that I was not callous to their agony." It was found by the Irish courts that John Sadleir had begun to abstract money from the bank from about the end of 1854, and took a total of £288,000.
    [edit]Investigations

    James Sadleir was Chairman, Managing Director and a public agent of the bank, and on 29 February the first creditor sued him to recover £2,827 15s. 4d. It was recognised that he would inevitably bear the brunt of the failure, and The Times reported that there was "a wide-spread feeling of pity" for him as he was already a ruined man. Other creditors of the bank rushed to try to recover their money from him. An early judgment absolved the managers of the bank of responsibility, but was soon reversed. The court inquiries disclosed letters written from John to James which implicated him in organising the frauds. However, Sadleir absconded on 17 June. Questions were asked why no criminal charges had been brought against him by this stage, any previous sympathy for his position having disappeared. Charges were brought on 18 July.
    [edit]Expelled from the House

    No-one was entirely sure where Sadleir was. In September, a Carlow newspaper reported that the police were on the wrong scent in looking in New Orleans, as he had made his way to South America. By February 1857, all patience was at an end, and the Attorney-General for Ireland successfully moved for Sadleir's expulsion for failing to surrender to the warrants for his arrest. A letter was read in the debate which placed Sadleir in Paris where he dined every day at the Palais Royal. He was expelled by the House on 16 February. His estates and those of his wife were seized by creditors and sold.
    [edit]Fate

    On 13 May, a letter from Sadleir, posted in Paris, was published in the Dublin Evening Post. He denied involvement in the frauds, and stated that he had denounced his brother when he learnt what he had been doing. This apologia was swiftly countered by James Scully, his cousin who was also implicated in the scandal, who described James as a "notorious culprit". Sadleir was maintained by an annuity paid by his wife's family, the Wheatleys. He never returned to face justice, and moved to Switzerland in 1861, living in Geneva and then Zürich.
    Twenty years later, while taking his regular walk up the Zürichberg, Sadleir came upon a thief intent on robbing him of his gold watch. He resisted and was shot dead, his body being concealed in the thicket by the side of the path where it was discovered a week later. His funeral was well-attended. His will was dated 23 May 1856, although the executors suspected that he may have made a later will which they were unable to find.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    I came accross this on Rootsweb and while not totally accurate shows gives a snapshot of life


    Executions of Irish in England from 1606


    --

    Can't find your esteemed ancestors in Ireland? Maybe they weren't so esteemed
    after all. Check out this list of Irish who were executed by the English
    government in London for various crimes.
    The following list is extracted from the Internet extraction of the
    publication 'Haydn's Dictionary of Dates' published in London in 1895. The
    name's are as published, with forenames where found. The date is in reference
    to the day of execution. A reason for execution is noted if known and the
    last place of reference is the place of the trial. Also noted are the names
    of the victims, where known.

    In The reign of Henry VIII. (38 Years) It is said that no less a number than
    72,000 criminals were executed. In the ten years between 1820 and 1830, there
    were executed in England alone 797 criminals.The place of execution in London
    (formerly generally at Tyburn) was in front of Newgate from 1783 to 1868,
    when an act was passed directing executions to take place within the walls of
    the prisons. The dissection of the bodies of the executed persons was
    abolished in 1832.


    Name Date, Reason, Place of Trial
    DIGBY, R 1606, 30 Jan Gunpowder plot conspirators, executed in
    WINTER, 1606 30 Jan London on this date.
    GRANT, 1606 30 Jan
    BATES, 1606 30 Jan
    WINTER, T 1606 31 Jan
    ROOKWOOD, 1606 31 Jan
    KEYS, 1606 31 Jan
    FAWKES 1606 31 Jan
    GARNETT, Henry 1606 03 May Jesuit
    KIDD, Capt William 1701 23 May And three others, for piracy
    M`NAUGHTEN, John Esq 1761 13 Dec Murder of Miss KNOX;
    MURPHY, Christian 1789 18 Mar * (or BOWMAN) A woman; Strangled and
    burnt for coining
    CROSBIE, Sir Edward 1798 04 Jun High treason; Ireland
    SHEARES, Messrs 1799 12 Jul High treason; Dublin
    CRAWLEY, Mr 1802 10 Mar Murder of two females; Dublin
    EMMETT, Robert 1803 20 Sep High treason; Dublin
    HAGGERTY, Owen 1807 23 Feb
    CAMPBELL, Major 1808 02 Oct Murder of Capt. BOYD in a duel; Armagh
    TUITE, Francis 1813 09 Oct Murder of Mr. GOULDI
    SCANLAN, John Esq 1820 16 Mar Murder of ELLEN HANLEY; Limerick
    BURKE, William 1829 28 Jan Murderer (BURKE & HARE); Edinburgh
    DELAHUNT, John 1842 05 Feb Murder of THOMAS MAGUIRE; Dublin
    CONNOR, Joseph 1845 02 Jun Murder of MARY BROTHERS; old bailey
    MANNING,George & Maria 1849 13 Nov Murder of O'CONNOR; Horsemonger-lane
    GRANT 1854 09 Apr Murder of THOMAS BATESON; Monaghan
    QUIN 1854 09 Apr Murder of THOMAS BATESON; Monaghan
    COOMEY 1854 09 Apr Murder of THOMAS BATESON; Monaghan
    DELANE, Dennis 1863 13 Apr Hired BECKHAM & WALSH to murder his landlord,
    F.FITZGERALD
    HOPE, William 1863 15 Apr Violation and murder of MARY CORBETT;
    Hereford
    KELLY, Joseph 1863 11 Aug Murder of FITZHENRY, a schoolmaster; Wexford
    THOMAS, ALVAREZ, HUGHES and O'BRIEN 1863 11 Sep Ferocious murderers;
    Liverpool
    CURRIE, John 1865 12 Oct Murder of Major DE VERE; Maidstone
    LARKIN, Michael 1867 23 Nov Murder of BRETT, a policeman; Salford
    FENIANS, 1867 23 Nov Murder of BRETT, a policeman; Salford
    FAHERTY, Timothy 1868 04 Apr Murder of his sweetheart, MARY HANMER,
    (for rejecting him); Manchester
    O'FARRELL 1868 21 Apr For attempting to assassinate the DUKE OF
    EDINBURGH; Sydney, N.S.Wales
    FENIAN, Michael Barrett 1868 26 May For Clerkenwell explosion. The LAST
    public execution in England; Old bailey
    WELLS, Thomas 1868 13 Aug Murder of Mr. WALSH, stationmaster at Dover.
    1st private execution.
    CORRIGAN, Thomas 1874 05 Jan Murder of mother; Liverpool
    BAILEY, Edwin 1874 12 Jan Murder of child; Gloucester
    BARRY, Ann 1874 12 Jan Murder of child; Gloucester
    FLANIGAN, Henry 1874 31 Aug Murder of aunt
    WILLIAMS, Mary 1874 31 Aug Murder of NICHOLAS MANNING; Liverpool
    MULLEN, Michael 1875 04 Jan Murder ? ; Liverpool
    McCRAVE, John 1875 04 Jan Murder ? ; Liverpool
    CORKERY, Jeremiah 1875 27 Jul Murder of policeman; Warwick
    McHUGH, ? 1875 02 Aug Murder; Durham
    GILLINGHAM, ? 1875 02 Aug Murder; Durham
    BAUMBOS, C.E. 1876 25 Aug Mutineer; Cork
    CROWE, ? 1876 25 Aug Mutineer; Cork
    O'DONNELL, Charles 1876 11 Dec Murder of wife; Newgate Manchester
    McGOVERN, Patrick 1877 21 Aug Murder; Liverpool
    BYRNE, Patrick John 1878 12 Nov Murder of two brother sergeants;
    Northampton
    McGOWAN, James 1878 19 Nov Murder of wife; Manchester
    McGUINESS, William 1879 11 Feb Murder of wife; Lancaster
    DILLEY, James 1879 25 Aug Murder of illegitimate child; Newgate
    CASSIDY, William 1880 17 Feb Murder of wife; Manchester
    BURNS, Hugh 1880 02 Mar Murder of PATRICK TRACEY at Widnes; Liverpool
    KEARNS, Patrick 1880 02 Mar Murder of PATRICK TRACEY at Widnes;
    Liverpool
    MOORE, Albert 1881 17 May Murder of of an old woman; Maidstone
    MULLARKEY, Bernard 1882 04 Dec Murder of THOMAS CRUISE; Liverpool
    CAREY, Patrick 1883 08 May Murder of THOMAS EASTHAM and MARY WHITE,
    Chester
    RILEY, Thomas 1883 26 Nov Murder of ELIZABETHH ALSTON; Manchester
    DUTTON, Henry 1883 03 Dec Murder of HANNAH HENSHAW; Liverpool
    O'DONNELL, Patrick 1883 17 Dec Murder of JAMES CAREY, the informer;
    Newgate
    CASSIDY, Peter 1884 19 Aug Murder of wife; Liverpool
    MINAHAN, Daniel 1885 07 Dec Murder of wife; Newgate
    WHELAN, James 1886 31 May For murder; Winchester
    MURPHY, James 1886 29 Nov Poacher, Murder; York
    CARROLL, Thomas William 1887 18 Apr Murder of LYDIA GREEN; Newgate
    DELANEY, Arthur T. 1888 10 Aug Murder of wife; Derby
    CONWAY, John 1891 20 Aug Murder of NICHOLAS MARTIN,a youth;Liverpool
    NEILL, Thomas 1892 15 Nov Murder; Newgate
    EDWARDS, Thomas 1892 22 Dec Murder of MARY CONOLLY; Usk
    MANNING, Albert 1893 16 Mar Murder of JANE E.FLEW; Gloucester

    http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/NIR-DOWN/2002-07/1026211425


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    Mary Young aka Jenny Diver was an Irish pickpocket who is name checked in the song Mack the Knife.



    The song was by Kurt Weill & Berholt Brecht who also wrote Alabama Song /Whiskey Bar .
    1741: Jenny Diver, a Bobby Darin lyric?

    March 18th, 2008 Headsman
    On this date in 1741,* at Tyburn‘s largest mass-execution of the mid-18th century, renowned cutpurse Jenny Diver was hanged along with 19 others.
    Born Mary Young in Ireland around 1700, the girl was abandoned as a child but deserted a benefactor’s household to take passage to London where she meant to work as a seamstress.
    What the Newgate Calendar reads as ingratitude, the modern reader might more sympathetically see as the allure of a burgeoning city for a teenager full of dreams.
    Dreams may nurture the spirit, but flesh must have bread. Like countless others through time — indeed, like countless other clients of Tyburn — Jenny found metropolis less than convivial to aspirations of honest labor.
    Unable to live on her stitching, Jenny found more lucrative employment for her manual dexterity in a sizable gang of thieves — of which her uncovered criminal puissance gave her mastery.
    The Newgate Chronicle bursts with almost doting memoirs of her agile fingers, like this one:
    he procured a pair of false hands and arms to be made, and concealing her real ones under her clothes she repaired on a Sunday evening to the place of worship above mentioned in a sedan-chair, one of the gang going before to procure a seat among the more genteel part of the congregation, and another attending in the character of a footman.
    Jenny being seated between two elderly ladies, each of whom had a gold watch by her side, she conducted herself with seeming great devotion; but when the service was nearly concluded she seized the opportunity, when the ladies were standing up, of stealing their watches, which she delivered to an accomplice in an adjoining pew.
    Not neglecting also to celebrate the gang’s more Sting-like ruses, like this hilarious turn of the tables on a credulous cuckolder:
    Jenny dressed herself in an elegant manner, and went to the theatre one evening when the king was to be present; and during the performance she attracted the particular attention of a young gentleman of fortune from Yorkshire, who declared, in the most passionate terms, that she had made an absolute conquest of his heart, and earnestly solicited the favour of attending her home. She at first declined a compliance, saying she was newly married, and that the appearance of a stranger might alarm her husband. At length she yielded to his entreaty, and they went together in a hackney-coach, which set the young gentleman down in the neighbourhood where Jenny lodged, after he had obtained an appointment to visit her in a few days, when she said her husband would be out of town.

    The day of appointment being arrived, two of the gang appeared equipped in elegant liveries, and Anne Murphy [another thief] appeared as waiting-maid. The gentleman came in the evening, having a gold-headed cane in his hand, a sword with a gold hilt by his side, and wearing a gold watch in his pocket, and a diamond ring on his finger.
    Being introduced to her bed-chamber, she contrived to steal her lover’s ring; and he had not been many minutes undressed before Anne Murphy rapped at the door, which being opened, she said, with an appearance of the utmost consternation, that her master was returned from the country. Jenny, affecting to be under a violent agitation of spirits, desired the gentleman to cover himself entirely with the bed-clothes, saying she would convey his apparel into another room, so that if her husband came there, nothing would appear to awaken his suspicion: adding that, under pretence of indisposition, she would prevail upon her husband to sleep in another bed, and then return to the arms of her lover.
    The clothes being removed, a consultation was held, when it was agreed by the gang that they should immediately pack up all their moveables, and decamp with their booty, which, exclusive of the cane, watch, sword, and ring, amounted to an hundred guineas.
    The amorous youth waited in a state of the utmost impatience till the morning, when he rang the bell, and brought the people of the house to the chamber-door, but they could not gain admittance, as the fair fugitive had turned the lock, and taken away the key; when the door was forced open the gentleman represented in what manner he had been treated; but the people of the house were deaf to his expostulations, and threatened to circulate the adventure throughout the town, unless he would indemnify them for the loss they had sustained. Rather than hazard the exposure of his character, he agreed to discharge the debt Jenny had contracted; and dispatched a messenger for clothes and money, that he might take leave of a house of which he had sufficient reason to regret having been an inhabitant.
    Alas to say, they all can’t come off like clockwork. Jenny was caught a couple of times, dodging the noose in 1733 and 1738, sentenced on both occasions to transportation to the American colonies.
    Finding little to recommend colonial Virginia, she returned illegally from both sentences at the risk of her life (she only survived her second arrest by passing herself off under an alias). The third time broke the charm, however: one is saddened to find her in her last adventure nabbed like a tyro trying to pick a younger woman’s pocket of a few shillings. The victim snatched Jenny’s wrist in the act: perhaps those nimble hands, now pushing 40, had finally slowed down.
    Jenny Diver’s hands, in their time, had profited her far more than needlework could have; they had given her a life of some comfort to compensate its perils; and at the end, they afforded their owner the last indulgence of a “mourning coach,” an enclosed carriage separate from the carts that hauled this day’s other 19 (unrelated) victims.
    It was a rowdy hanging day with an unusual guard detail of soldiery: one of the prisoners had reported a pending rescue attempt, and for her resources and gang affiliations, Jenny was thought to be its intended beneficiary. (If the stool pigeon was hoping his own tattling would reprieve him, he was disappointed.) For reasons related or not, the crowd was in an ugly mood, as reported by the Newgate Ordinary:
    In this Manner were they convey’d through a vast Multitude of People to Tyburn, some of whom, notwithstanding the Guard of Soldiers, were very rude and noisy, hallooing, throwing Brickbats, Mud, &c. at the unhappy Prisoners, as they passed.
    Her notoriety would live on in cheap publications hawked by itinerant peddlers — 18th century precursors of the penny dreadful — that in Jenny’s case helpfully doled out tips on foiling pickpockets.





    http://www.executedtoday.com/2008/03/18/1741-jenny-diver/


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 372 ✭✭SillyMcCarthy


    Where would you find information on all people executed during or after The Civil War? I can remember my Grandfather telling me that he was in an execution party that executed a man at The Curragh by firing squad.
    I can remember his surname but I wouldn't like to place it here!


  • Registered Users Posts: 20,907 ✭✭✭✭Ash.J.Williams


    Morlar wrote: »
    'The walking gallows'

    Jack Hepenstal was a lieutenent in the Irish Yeomanry, who earned himself the nickname of "The Walking Gallows" at the time of the Irish Rebellion of 1798. A smiling giant of a man, Lt Hepenstal would roam about the countryside seizing any stray peasant whom he suspected might be a rebel. He would take off his silk cravat, and with the aid of a companion use it to string up his victim behind his back, after which he would ‘trot about with his burden like jolting carthorse’ until the man was dead. After Jack Hepenstal's death in 1802, some wag wrote for him the following epitaph: “Here lie the bones of Hepenstal; Judge, jury, gallows, rope and all” This epitaph, used metaphorically, is still quoted today to emphasise the importance of separating the legislature from the executive.

    Following the death of Jack's brother George Hepenstal in 1805, his sister-in-law Hester Hepenstal, nee Watson, married Dr Patrick Duigenan, the Irish politician famous for his rabid anti-Catholic opinions. It is only because of Sir Jonah Barrington's reminiscences of Dr Patrick Duigenan in 'Historic Memoirs of Ireland'(1833) that we have the description of Lt Jack Hepenstal's barbaric practices at the time of the Irish Rebellion.

    Return to Heppenstall One-Name Study Main Page here

    http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mellor2/Lt%20Jack%20Hepenstal.html

    nice one !! i was going to post this if it wasn't here!!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    A bit of folklore from Dublin
    Before passing away from Grangegorman the story, as narrated by Burton, of "Billy in the Bowl" must not be omitted. This character used to ply his calling between the quiet streets of Stoneybatter and the Green Lanes of Grangegorman. He was nicknamed "Billy in the Bowl," having been introduced into the world with only a head, body, and arms.
    When he grew up he conveyed himself along in a large bowl fortified by iron, in which he was embedded. This man was the original "Billy in the Bowl," for though many other personages who got along in various ways were honoured with the same sobriquet, yet this fellow was the king of them all.
    He soon ingratiated himself with the simple servant maids from Meath in the respectable houses of Oxmantown. "It's only Billy in the Bowl, ma'am." "Oh, very well," and Billy's bowl was filled with beef, bread, etc. Nature had compensated for his curtailment by giving him fine dark eyes, an aquiline nose, and a well-formed mouth, with dark curling locks, and a body and arms of herculean power.
    It was not to be wondered at, therefore, that hearts susceptible to pity should be touched by the peculiar circumstances of this lusus naturae. He certainly won the hearts of the plebeian fair north of the Liffey. Amongst them he was a universal favourite.
    It had, nevertheless, transpired in sober circles that Billy in the Bowl had been suspected of very atrocious deeds. He was one of those curious beggars who frequented fairs and public places, where he picked up a good deal of money. The manner in which it is said he committed his depredations was by secreting himself in a ditch or inside a hedge on a lonely part of the road or unfrequented corner till a suitable person was passing on whom he might practice, and then, addressing them in a plaintive strain, begged of them to assist a poor, helpless man. They, struck by his peculiar circumstances, stepped aside to view the strange sight – half-man, half-bowl - and were soon undone in one way or another.
    It is said he murdered his victims; otherwise so marked a man would soon have been detected had they escaped to denounce him. But his visits to Oxmantown and its environs at last ceased in consequence of his failure in attempted robbery of two ladies who were passing through what was then known as Richardson's Lane, now a portion of the Royal Barracks (prison side), when at one of the stiles or passages between the fields they saw Billy in his bowl. The unsuspecting ladies were by no means displeased at the rencontre, and female curiosity, together with Billy's coaxing ways, induced them to draw near to examine how he was disposed in his extraordinary vehicle, resolving in the humanity of their hearts to give him something.
    They both expressed their admiration and pity, whilst Billy was profuse in his commendation of the "fine ladies" who had so "marcifully" come out of their way to see the "poor prisoner. One of them was applying her eye-glass to inspect more perfectly Billy's premises, and the other was preparing her gratuity to drop into his bowl.
    The fellow's eyes were gloating in the meantime on their gold watches, bracelets, and other valuable trinkets which the ladies of that period were ornamented with, when, watching his opportunity, the base fellow attacked them, and, before they could think what was the matter, dragged them down. Their confusion, and the destruction of their habiliments, together with the rude efforts the villain was making to possess himself of their valuables, at first rendered them powerless; they, however, began at last to struggle and call for help; but, alas, none was then near.
    The ruffian was endeavouring to shove his heavy bowl over one, till he had robbed the other lady, yet with all his strength, the defect of his lower man gave the unfortunate females an advantage. One seized his curling locks with her hand, whilst she contrived to thrust her thumb into one of Billy's eyes. The fellow roared with pain, and relaxed his hold of the other lady, who sprang up, disordered as she was.
    They now contrived to get out of his range, but in a most soiled and tattered condition-their hair dishevelled, their ornaments broken and scattered, their clothes ruined-whilst Billy himself almost deprived of the sight of one of his eyes, was left in his bowl to lament his wretched situation, and the certain punishment that awaited him.
    The poor gentlewomen returned to their friends in Manor Street, and having told their story, no time was lost in pursuing the wretch who had committed such an assault. Billy, in the meantime, had contrived to screen himself behind a hedge in the next field, but was soon detected, most of the valuables were picked up on the ground where the attack had taken place, and some of the party procured a strong hand-barrow, on which Billy was conveyed in triumph to prison. (It was just about this time, 1786, that a police force was established in Dublin).
    Billy was confined in the jail in Green Street, where as much of him as could be made use of was employed in hard labour for the remainder of his days. In consequence of this fellow's ill-fame, and the audacious feats he had performed, he became an object of great curiosity, and was visited as one of the "lions of the day."
    http://www.chaptersofdublin.com/books/OldDub/chapter8.htm


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,649 ✭✭✭✭CDfm


    Here is the extraordinary case of Lord Santry in 1739
    Official Account of the Trial of Lord Santry.
    In an interval of the meetings of Parliament in 1739, the House of Commons, Dublin, was assigned as a court for the trial of Henry Barry, fourth Lord Santry, who was indicted for having in the previous year killed a man at Palmerstown.
    The 27th of April having been appointed for the trial, a regiment of infantry took up its station on College Green, soon after 6am, and at 7 o'clock the company of Battle-axe guards lined the avenues leading to the Parliament House, the city constables attending to preserve the peace.
    At half-past seven o'clock, the prisoner, then in his 29th year, was conveyed in a hackney-coach, from gaol, by the High Sheriffs of the city, to the House of Commons, which had been fitted up for the occasion; and at 10 o’clock, Thomas, Lord Wyndham, Chancellor of Ireland, constituted High Stewart by royal commission, proceeded from this residence in Stephen’s Green to the Parliament House.
    The following account of the proceedings is preserved in a contemporary manuscript: - On the morning of the trial, the Judges in their scarlet robes, together with the King-of-Arms, the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, and the Sergeant-at-Arms, assembled at the Lord High Steward's house, to wait upon his Grace, the King-of-Arms being in his coat of arms, the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod having the white staff, and the Sergeant-at-Arms having his mace.
    "After a short stay, his Grace the Lord High Steward went to his coach in the following order: his Grace's twelve gentlemen, two-and-two, bare-headed; his Sergeant-at-Arms and Seal-Bearer, both bare-headed, the one with the mace, the other with the purse; the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod with his Grace the Lord High Steward's white staff, and the King-of-Arms on his right hand, both bare-headed then his Grace the Lord High Steward, in his rich gown, with his train borne, followed by the Chief Justices and Judges.
    "His Grace's gentlemen first took their coaches, four in a coach, each coach having two horses. Then his Grace the Lord High Steward took his coach, with six horses, seating himself on the hinder seat of the coach singly, the King-of-Arms and the Seal-bearer sitting over against his Grace, bare-headed, the Black Rod in the right-hand boot of the coach with his Grace's white staff; and his Grace's Sergeant-at-Arms in the left boot, with his mace. The Judges took their coaches and followed his Grace.
    "A messenger was sent a little before to acquaint the Lords the triers, who were assembled in a room near theplace appointed for the trial of the prisoner, that his Grace was coming, upon which they went and took their seats in the Court.
    "When his Grace came to the gate where the Court was held, he was met by four other sergeants, with their maces, and attended to his seat in the Court in this order: his Grace’s Gentlemen, two-and two; the Sergeants-at-Arms, two-and-two; his Grace's Sergeant-at-Arms and Seal-Bearer; the Black Rod, and King-of-Arms; his Grace the Lord High Steward, with his train borne, followed by the Chief Justices and Judges, two-and-two. Then his Grace proceeded, saluting the Peers on each side as he passed, to a chair, under a cloth of state, placed upon an ascent of one step only, and he having seated himself, the purse was laid on a stool a little before him on his right hand, and his Grace's Sergeant-at-Arms went with his mace to the lower end of the table.
    "Then, his Grace being in the chair, the Lords triers on their benches on each side, and the Judges on their seats at the table, the King-of-Arms and the Seal-bearer placed themselves on his Grace's right hand, the Black Rod on his left, and the Sergeant-at-Arms and his Gentlemen on each side of his Grace, more backward. Then the Clerk of the Crown in the King's Bench, and the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, having the King's commission to his Grace in his hand, both made three reverences to his Grace, and at the third reverence, coming up before him, they both kneeled down; and the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, on his knee, presented the commission to his Grace, who delivered it to the Clerk of the Crown of the King's Bench, who received it upon his knees, and then they, with three reverences, returned to the table.
    "Then the Clerk of the Crown of the King's Bench directed his Grace's Sergeant-at-Arms (after thrice crying 'oyez') to make proclamation of silence, while his Majesty's commission to his Grace the Lord High Steward was reading, which proclamation the Clerk of the Crown directed, and the Sergeant-at-Arms made, with his mace on his shoulder; then the Clerk of the Crown of the King's Bench, opening the commission, read it, his Grace and the Lords standing up, uncovered, while it was reading.
    "The commission being read, and his Grace bowing to the Peers, who returned the salute, and sitting down again, the King-of-Arms, and the Black Rod, with three reverences, jointly presented the white staff, on their knees, to his Grace, who, after a little time, re-delivered the same to the Usher of the Black Rod, to hold during the trial.
    "Then the King-of-Arms returned to the right, and the Usher of the Black Rod, holding the white staff, to the left of his Grace's chair. And proclamation was made for all persons except Peers, Privy Councillors, and the Judges to be uncovered.
    "Then proclamation was made, that the person or per-sons to whom any writ or precept had been directed, for the certifying any indictment or record before the Lord High Steward, his Grace, should certify and bring in the same forthwith, according to the tenor of the same writ and precept to them or any of them directed.
    "Whereupon the writ of certiorari, with the precept to the Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, and the returns to the same, were delivered in at the table, and read by the Clerk of the Crown of the King's Bench.
    "Then proclamation was made for the person or persons in whose custody the prisoner was, to return to his or their writ and precept together with the body of the prisoner, into court.
    "Whereupon the Sheriffs of the City of Dublin gave in the writ directed to them for bringing up the prisoner, together with his Grace's precept and their returns to the same, which were read by the Clerk of the Crown of the King's Bench.
    Then they brought the prisoner to the bar, the axe being carried before him, and the person carrying the axe stood with it at the bar, on the right hand of the prisoner, turning the edge from him.
    "The prisoner, at Ms approach to the bar, made three reverences, one to his Grace the Lord High Steward, the others to the Peers on each hand, and his Grace and the Peers returned the salute to him.
    "Then the proclamation was made for the Sergeant-at-Arms to return his Grace the Lord High Steward's precept to him directed, together with the names of all the Lords and noblemen of the realm, peers of the prisoner, by him summoned forthwith.
    "Then the Clerk of the Crown of the King's Bench directed the Sergeant-at-Arms to make proclamation for all Earls, Viscounts, and Barons of the realm, peers of the prisoner, who, by commandment of his Grace the Lord High Steward, were summoned to appear; there that day and were present in court to answer to their names.
    "Then the Peers summoned were called over, and those who appeared, standing up uncovered, answered to their names, each making a reverence to his Grace the Lord High Steward, and were:-
    Robert Earl of Kildare.
    Henry, Earl of Thomond.
    Alexander, Earl of Antrim.
    James, Earl of Roscommon.
    Chaworth, Earl of Meath.
    Edward, Earl of Drogheda.
    Hugh, Earl of Mount-Alexander.
    John, Earl of Grandison.
    Nicholas, Viscount Netterville.
    Theobald, Viscount Mayo.
    William, Viscount Mountjoy.
    George, Viscount Castlecomer.
    James, Viscount Limerick.
    Marcus, Viscount Tyrone
    Brabazon, Viscount Duncannon.
    Humphrey,Viscount Lanesborough.
    Francis, Baron of Athenry.
    William, Baron of Howth
    George, Baron of Carberry.
    Charles, Lord Tullamore.
    Thomas, Lord Southwell
    William, Lord Castledurrow.
    John, Lord Desart.
    "After this the Peers triers took their places on the benches on each side, according to their respective degrees.
    "Then his Grace the Lord High Steward addressed himself to the prisoner, and the indictment having been read:
    "Clerk of the Crown: Is your Lordship guilty or not guilty?
    "Lord Santry: Not guilty.
    "Clerk of the Crown: How will your Lordship be tried?
    "Lord Santry: By God and my peers.
    "Then the Lord High Steward gave his charge to the Peers."
    "Laughlin Murphy, the unfortunate man killed, was," according to Robert Jocelyn," the Attorney- General, "a person who with a good deal of industry and difficulty maintained himself a wife, and three small children; by being employed as a porter, and carrying letters and messages. - The day this unfortunate accident happened," continues our authority, "was the 9th of August, the fair-day of Palmerstown, the house a public-house, and, as I am instructed, the door that leads into the house goes into a narrow passage upon the right hand; the passage leads to the chamber where the noble Lord the prisoner at the bar was with his company on the left to the door of the kitchen, where the deceased was.
    It has been opined that the Lord the prisoner at the bar had been drinking some time, - my brief says, some hours. The company was gone, but there happened some words between the noble Lord the prisoner at the bar and one Humphreys, something more than words; for," continued Jocelyn, "according to my instructions, the noble Lord the prisoner at the bar twice attempted to draw his sword, but could not do it.
    He was then in a passion, and suddenly left the room; and was going either out of doors or to the kitchen. It was then he met this poor man in the passage, and pushed him with his right hand, and the deceased went on to the kitchen, whither the Lord the prisoner followed him, and swore he would kill any man that should speak a word.
    The poor man spoke, and the noble Lord the prisoner at the bar too punctually performed what he had so rashly sworn, and stabbed him. Upon this the man went into a room near the kitchen, stayed but a little while, and came back into the kitchen; the blood gushed out of the wound, the man fell down and cried out, 'I am killed.'
    Upon this the noble Lord the prisoner, going out hastily, took his horse, and gave the man of the house a four-pound piece, but gave him no order what to do." Murphy died on the 25th of September, in Hammond-lane, Dublin.
    Lord Santry's defence was that his death had been caused by disease.
    A letter written from Dublin by Dr. Thomas Rundle, Bishop of Perry, contains the following notice of this trial : -"Poor Lord Santry was tried on Friday by his peers. I never beheld a sight so awful and majestic and dreadfully beautiful in ray life; and nothing was ever performed with so much solemnity, silence, and dignity before in any country. The finest room in Europe filled with the nobility and gentry of the whole kingdom and both sexes; the High Steward, every one of the Judges; the Lords the triers; and the noble prisoner, young and handsome, most decent in his behaviour, and with a becoming fortitude in his speaking, - could not but compose the most affecting scene. All were so attentive that silence was not once proclaimed. The King's counsel did admirably; but Bowes the Solicitor-General had an opportunity to show himself to the highest advantage. I always thought him an admirable speaker; but never imagined him half so great a man as I do at present, though I always loved and esteemed him. He did not use one severe word against the unhappy Lord, nor omitted one severe observation that truth could dictate. I never heard, never read, so perfect a piece of eloquence. Its beauty arose from true simplicity and unaffected ornaments; from the strength and light of his reason, the fairness and candour and good nature of his heart; from the order and disposition of what he said, the elegance and fulness of his expressions, the shortness and propriety of his reflections, the music of his voice, and the gracefulness of his elocution. They were all wonderful indeed; and charmed even those who were concerned and grieved at his most masterly performance. But if they did well, I think the counsel for the prisoner acted detestably. They only prompted him to ask a few treacherous questions, and spoke not one word in his favour; though I have the vanity almost to think I could have offered a point of law that would have bid fair to save him. When the 23 Peers returned to give their opinion, their countenances astonished the whole House; and all knew, from the horror of their eyes and the paleness of their looks, how they were agitated within before they answered the dread question - 'Guilty, upon my honour;' and he was so most certainly, according to the law: nor could they perhaps have brought in their dreadful verdict otherwise."
    The Peers unanimously recommended Lord Santry to the royal mercy, which being seconded by the Lord Lieutenant, the King granted him a reprieve, and subsequently a full pardon.


    http://www.chaptersofdublin.com/books/General/trialoflordsantry.htm


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 309 ✭✭Nhead


    No bother CDfm, I actually removed it as it is nearly a carbon copy of a previous post that I hadn't seen so it's better off removed.


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