The Armagh Guardian - Abstracts

    MANSLAUGHTER.—On Monday morning last, about nine or ten o’clock, a man named Henry Convery was killed, in the neighbourhood of Poyntzpass. It appears that the deceased had gone into a field in which reapers were employed, and which adjoined his own land, and commenced a conversation with them, in the course of which he gave some offence to a young man named Michael Flannigan, when a scuffle commenced between the two parties, which was terminated by Flannigan giving Convery a desperate cut with his shearing-hook in the inside of the right thigh, which severed the main artery ; and although medical aid was shortly on the spot, it was unavailing. The wounded man died about half-an-hour after the scuffle, from an effusion of blood. An inquest was held on the evening of the same day, at which George Henry, Esq., County Coroner ; Colonel Close, J.P., and Peter Quinn, Esq., J.P., presided. The Jury, on a full consideration of the circumstances of the case, returned a verdict of “Manslaughter” against Michael Flannigan, who is now fully committed to Armagh Gaol, to stand his trial at the ensuing Assizes.—Newry Telegraph.

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     A FEMALE CANNIBAL.—On Thursday, Mr. DAVID ALDERDICE, a respectable pawnbroker in Charlemont, had a dispute with a woman about a forfeited pledge, whom, on account of her violent conduct, he endeavoured to eject from the shop. While in the act of so doing the infuriated tigress sprung on the old gentleman with a savage growl and seized one of his thumbs in her ruthless fangs. Poor Mr. ALDERDICE, convulsed with agony, cried loudly for assistance, but was obliged to pummel the vampire (which, for a septuagenarian, he did to admiration) with the hand that was at liberty, before he could be rescued from her blood-thirsty clutches. She was finally removed by the police, and committed by W. OLPHERTS, Esq., J.P., to Armagh gaol—a sorry consolation to Mr. ALDERDICE, who continues to labour under the terrors of lock-jaw.

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     INQUEST.—On Tuesday last GEORGE HENRY, Esq., Coroner, held an inquest in Armagh gaol, on the body of a prisoner named ELIZA M’KENNA, aged 85 years, who died suddenly. A verdict of death from natural causes was returned.

    A MAN DROWNED TO SAVE A PENNY.—An inquest was held at the Ferry Boat, Mexbro’, on view of the body of Henry Graham, an Irish labourer from Armagh. It appeared in evidence, that deceased, along with four other Irishmen, had been shearing several days for Mr. Dickson, of Mexbro’, and on the previous day (Sunday) were proceeding in the afternoon to Laughton-en-le-Morten, to harvest for Mr. Pigott ; four of the men crossed the river Dun, by the ferry-boat, and paid the usual charge of one penny, but it appears that Graham (who was of so close and saving a disposition), rather than pay the penny, went some distance below the ferry, and was attempting to cross the river Dun on some stones, when he slipped off and fell into deep water, and was unfortunately drowned in the presence of his companions, the ferryman, and others, without their being able to render him any assistance. The body was got out in about twenty minutes, and every means used by Dr. Woollam to restore animation, but without effect. It may be remarked that the deceased had lived for three weeks on 6s. 8d. ; and that he had 3l. 6s. 6d. in money in his pockets, and left 10l. in the hands of a person at Marsden, near Huddersfield, for whom he had been working. A verdict of accidentally drowned” [sic] was recorded.—Doncaster Gazette.

    ANOTHER IRISHMAN KILLED.—An Irish labourer, named Samuel Manly, was on Monday afternoon found dead in the road above Broom-bar, Rotherham. On the inquest, it transpired that in preference to going to a lodging-house, he had slept in a grass field on Sunday night, with nearly 2l. in his pocket, and having been almost perished by the cold, he crawled into the road, where he died. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with these facts.—Ibid.

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    “ A MAN DROWNED TO SAVE A PENNY.”—A correspondent furnishes the following additional particulars respecting the unfortunate individual, whose death is announced under the above heading :--Henry Graham was born at or near Crossmaglen, in this county, where it is thought his relations yet remain. Some years ago he came to the neighbourhood of Lisavague, bordering the parishes of Kilmore and Drumcree, where he lived as a farm servant, and has since lived with several farmers in that district, and was well respected. Last winter he was employed as a scutcher in the flax mill of the Messrs. Neal, of Ballybreagh, and at the close of the scutching season he lived with a man named M’Allen, where he remained till he went off to England to work at the harvest. He has left some property in this neighbourhood, which is considered to be in good hands, and may yet be recovered by his friends, who most likely are ignorant of his having left this country, or of his untimely end. (Further information may be obtained by calling at THE ARMAGH GUARDIAN office.)

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