The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-01-15 00:00:00

REMARKABLE EVICTION SCENE.

A scene of extraordinary excitement prevailed at
Rossmanagher Six-mile-bridge on- Tuesday in con-
nection with an attempt to evict a farmer named
John Frost from a holding on the property of Mr. H.
V. d'Esterre, J.P. The people of the locality were
daily on the loak out for a visit from the sheriff, and
on Tuesday morning word was conveyed that Mr.
Mahon, sub-sheriff of Clare, and several bailiffs, ac-
companied by a force of 100 police, collected from
various stations in Clare and Limerick, were on their
way to Rossmanagher. The chapel bell was imme-
diately rung, and horns were sounded, with the result
that crowds of people flocked from all parts of the
surrounding country, and when the evicting force
arrived there was an immense gathering. The police
were in charges of County Inspector Heard and
District Inspectors, Siddell and M'Donnell, the whole
being in command of Captain Walsh, R.M. Mr.
d'Esterre also accompanied the sheriff, and when his
presence was discovered there was great groaning and
hissing. The windows of the house were barricaded
and the front door was removed, but against the
opening were placed large iron gates supported by a
pile of stones. Inside the gates, but commanding a
view of what was taking place outside, stood the Rev.
Father Little, P.P., in chains; The latter were
secured round his body and connected with the gates,
so that an entrance could not be effected without
molestation of his person. The rev, gentleman de-
nceinced as harsh and cruel the eviction of a family of
13 persons, because of the inability of the tenant, a
hardwerking and industrious man, to pay a crushing
rack-rent, and said they should trample on his body
before so inhuman an act was carried out. At length
the bailiffs were set to work, but they experienced
much difficulty in removing the stones and other ob-
structions. All the while a man kept sounding a
horn, and the multitude was fast increasing. The
excitement rose to fever heat, and when the bailiffs
seemed likely to accomplish their task the crowd
pressed in on them, and eventually matters assumed
BO grave an aspect that Captain Walsh gave orders to
the police to draw their batons and disperse the
people. The majority of the crowd quickly fled, but
many persons came in for hard knocks, and some
were so seriously hurt that Dr. Frost had to be rent
for to dress their wounds. Subsequently Constable
Fitzgerald, who was accused of having made him-
self conspicuous in the chaTge, was attacked,
knocked down, and his hand injured. Father
Little, who continued chained to the gates, protested
against the conduct of the police and those in charge
of them. The tumult and excitement: showed no
sign of abatement, but after a time the operations of
the bailiffs were stopped and a suggestion as to
arranging the difficulty was made. A proposal as to
the purchase of the farm by Mr. Frost was discussed
by the enchained clergyman `and the landlord, who
pointed out that he had received no rent :out of the
farm for the past four years, a sum of between £OOO
and £7OO being now due to him. The basis of agree-
ment put forward on behalf of the tenant was 18
years purchase at 455. an acre. It was ultimately
resolved to stop the eviction pending the considera-
tion and carrying out of the agreement.