Newspaper Abstracts

Carlow, July 27. Yesterday ended our assizes, at which was tried an indictment of an extraordinary nature in this kingdom, and rendered still more so by being at the prosecution of a gentleman not a little remarkable for courage and prowess.- Mr. Bagnal, late member of this county, had some time since ordered the tails and ears of some pigs, which were found trespassing on his land, to be cut off, which was accordingly done; they happened to be the property of a neighbouring gentleman, Mr. Weld, who considering himself personally insulted sent a challenge to Mr. B. in consequence of which they had a meeting, when Mr. Weld fired.- Mr. Bagnel declined to do so, but lodged examinations against Mr. W. for sending the challenge and for the assault, upon which bills being found, Mr. W. appeared to take his trial. Evidence being fully heard, and the jury having received a most excellent charge from the judge, Mr. Justice Crookshank, found Mr. W. guilty, and the Court was pleased to impose a fine of seventy pounds on him, and ordered him to be imprisoned for one month. There was very little There was very little other crown business, and but few records; one between Rev. Mr. Stratford and Mr. Powel who is married to Lady Jane, his sister, took up several hours. The jury with little hesitation, found a verdict for the defendant. The commission at Athy opens this day.

Limerick, August 11, Last Saturday Matthew O'Brien (alias Slattery) John Clancy and Mich. Corbet were executed at Gallows-green, pursuant to their sentence at the last assizes, for different burglaries and robberies, as mentioned in a former paper.- O'Brien at the place of execution, denied in the most solemn manner his having been concerned in the burglary and robbery of the widow Barry at Mungret, which was the crime he suffered for, and of which fact he had been convicted in so clear and unequivocal manner, as not to leave the smallest doubt of his guilt on the minds of the jury or judge.
If a stimulus is requisite to urge a universal adoption of solitary confinement for persons committed to prisons, and particular separate rooms for those who for several offences may be immured within the walls there of, we imagine no greater can be offered than the dying words of Clanchy and Corbet at the place of execution. "We," said they, " at first were committed to the city crib on suspicion of crimes we never committed, among a company of wretches whose whole scheme was, when they would be liberated, who they should plunder; thus when acquitted we came out fully ripened for all manner of iniquity."

DOWNE ASSIZES.
On Monday the 4th inst, came on to be tried at Downpatrick, before the Hon. Baron Hamilton and a special Jury, a cause at nisi prius, in which a verdict obtained at the spring assizes for 735l. had been set aside, wherein Mr. John Speer of Dunlanaghy, in the county of Donegall, and others were plaintiffs-and Mr. Andrew Dunlap, of Donaghadee, defendant.- The action was brought to recover damages on account of a cargo of meal bought from the defendant by the plaintiffs, being seized at the port of Dunlanaghy. It appeared on the trial, that the defendant had ordered a cargo of meal to be shipped for him in Scotland in the summer of 1787, at a time when meal in this kingdom was under the price that the law admits of importation without paying a duty of five shillings, per cwt. The plaintiffs on or before the arrival of the vessel at Donaghadee, purchased the cargo at a higher price than meal then sold at Belfast and the defendant engaged to deliver it at the port of Dunfanaghy- on the arrive of the vessel at Dunfanaghy, the matter went to the Custom-house at Ballyrain, reported his cargo as Irish meal, and produced a docket from Donaghadee, which docket on examination was found to be materially altered, it being originally obtained for four ton on board the Nancy, James M'Combe, master, but appeared to be for forty ton on board the Hawke, and that the master, whose real name was Ennis, signed the name of M'Combe to his entry, on which the vessel and cargo were seized. The plaintiffs then memorialed the Commissioners of his Majesty's Revenue, praying that the meal might be restored to them, - which not being granted, one of the plaintiffs, who were partners in trade, signed a submission, under which the meal was sold before the twenty-one days expired, which time by law goods not claimed must lye before they can be sold.- The defendant also memorialed the Commissioners, praying the vessel, as being his property, might be given up to him- which was ordered to be sold him for a crown.- After a hearing of eight hours, in which much legal knowledge was displayed by the counsel on both sides, a verdict was given in favour of the plaintiffs, with 500ls damages and costs of suit.

The Times
London, Middlesex, England
Saturday, Aug 23, 1788

IRELAND

     Limerick, Aug. 14- On the night of the 17th instant, the house of Thomas Eyre Powell, Esq. of Coote-hill, was broken open by five men, two of whom got in, fired at Mr. Powell, and wounded him in the hand; he immediately returned the fire, and killed one of the villains on the foot, the other four made their escape. The Gentlemen of the county went in pursuit of them, and we hope will be able to give a good account of them.
     Last Saturday, Mr. Charles P. Bolton, surveyor of excise, assisted by Mr. Patrick Thally, guager, discovered in the town of Corrofin, an extensive tobacco manufactory, wherein they seized all the utensils used in that illicit trade; also a large quantity of loose leaf or four tobacco, in process of manufacture, which they lodged in his Majesty's stores in that town.
    Cork, Aug. 11., Last week a Michael Ahern, who broke out of the jail of Kilkenny, charged with a rape, was apprehended in this city by Mr. Paterson, the deputy water bailiff; and yesterday he was transmitted hence under an escort of a serjeant's guard; but this morning we hear that he escaped from Rathcormack bridewell.
     King's County, Aug. 7. This day our assizes ended, when the following who were tried before the Hon. Mr. Justice Kelly, received sentence as follows: William Bryan and John Landy, convicted for forcibly carrying away Mary Carrol, with an intent of compelling her to marry said Bryan against her will, received sentence of death.
     Laurence Costigan tried for the murder of Martin Whelan, found guilty of manslaughter, sentenced to be burned in the hand and confined twelve months.
     Thomas Wilder Drought, Esq., one of the coroners of this county, for assaulting John Coghlan, aged near eighty, and knocking out two of his teeth, fined only five pounds, the judge supposing the Mr. Coghlan would bring his action for private injury.
     The time of Mrs. Lewellyn's execution is on the 8th day of November next, as it is not intended to mitigate her punishment. The last woman tried for assisting at a rape, before the condemnation of the present delinquent, was a Miss G_____, of the county of Roscommon, who went to bed to a young lady, at a house where they were visitors together, and held the lady down, while a brother of the former perpetrated the crime. They were both tried a few years since, but escaped through the extreme delicacy of the prosecutrix.
     The last brothel-keeper executed here, was Dorcas Kelly, in the vaults of whose house in Copper-alley, five bodies of murdered Gentlemen were found, and among the rest, one, supposed to be that of surgeon Tuckey's son, of whom no account has ever been had. She was burned almost alive, among the groans and execrations of the young people.
     Belfast, Aug. 2. Arrived the Endeavour, Seaton, from Boston, under Jury Masts, having been struck at sea with lightning, which carried away her masts, and struck three men dead out on the deck. The above ship was attacked on the aft by three large Algeripe corsairs, who rumaged her papers, then took out six tierces of beef and pork, and released her.

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