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

THE RENT WAR IN IRELAND.

A Cork correspondent says that, acting on a
circular issued from the Dublin Castle, the police are
busily engaged ascertaining the names of proprietors
and editors of all Nationalist newspapers in Ireland ;
also the names of the usual contributors to these
journals, particular attention being devoted to ascer-
taining whether, amongst the contributors, there are
any Irish Nationalist members of Parliament.

What the Irish Nationalists regard as an important
victory for the Plan of Campaign has occurred on
the estate of Lord Dillon in county Mayo, when,
after resisting an abatement of 25 per cent. Lord
Dillon granted a reduction of 20 per cent. Mr.
William O'Brien, editor of United Ireland, and Mr.
Crilly, M.P., two of the defendants in the Government
prosecutions, wet the agent, and in addition to the
abatement it was agreed that all the evicted tenants
should be reinstated, and that all costs should be
borne by the landlord. Four Nationalist rent offices
had been opened on this estatr, and after defiant
speeches by Mr. Dillon the rents of the tenants were
received and banked by Mr. Crilly, M.P., Mr. W.
Redmond, M.P., and Mr. Carew, M.P. There are
600 tenants on the estate, and the rental is about
£25,000 a year. As a consequence of the Plan of
Campaign proceedings, over 400 ejectment processes
and writs for rent against tenants were issued last week.
The bailiffs on the estate having resigned their posi-
tions, the work of posting the writs had to be per-
formed by a sub-agent. Lord Dillon's so-called
" capitulation " was announced to a meeting of the
tenants on Sunday afternoon. Mr. William O'Brien,
who received an ovation, in his speech thanked God
that their shouts were the stouts of victory. They
were firing that day the first volley over the grave of
landlordism in Ireland. The work was only begin-
ning. What Lord Dillon had done, Lord Freyne,
Lord Clanricarde, and the rest of tha rack-renters
would do, and if they resisted their tottering power
would crumble into bankruptcy, and the grass would
grow green round their rent offices.
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, in reply to
memorial of his county Down tenants, declined to
give any reduction of rent, but states that he is
willing to sell them their farms at a reasonable price.
The tenants have offered 15 years' purchase for their
holdings and ask his Excellency to reconsider his
refusal Of a reduction.

On Saturday night a body of armed and disguised
men visited the house of a farmer named Leane at
Castleisland and fired several shots through the
window. Leane was slightly injured on the head.
He had been boycotted fer some time.
Mr. John Dillon, M.P., has commenced an action
in the Common Pleas Division, Ireland, a ainst
County Inspector John Mark O'Brien and District
Inspector Hugh Davis to recover £2OOO damages for
malicious prosecution and assaultrand £lOOO for the
seizure and detention of certain moneys, books, and
documents. The action arises out of the recent
arrest of Mr. Dillon, Mr. O'Brien, and others, at
Loughrea, where a rent-office was being held in
accordance with the Plan of Campaign. Plaintiff also
seeks an order, compelling the defendants to deliver
up the money, books, and documents seized.
A Limerick correspondent telegraphs some particu-
lars respecting a moonlight outrage, in connection
with which four brothers named Connor were ar-
rested by the police patrol near Newcastle West. It
appears that on Saturday night six men, five carrying
guns and the sixth a scythe, entered the house of a
farmer named Connor, at Catherlivoy near Mount
Collins. One of the gang fired at Connor, but the
shot did not take effect, and the old man, with his
wife, sons, and daughters, having recovered
from their first surprise, turned upon
their assailants and made a desperate resist,
ance. A terrible affray ensued, the Connors using
sticks, chairs, and fire-irons, and the moonlighters
even more deadly weapons. Ultimately, the old man
and his children were completely victorious, for they
captured the barrel of a gun from the miscreants, tore
the masks from their faces, and drove them off helter-
skelter. The gallant old farmer was badly cut with
the scythe, his wife was wounded on the head by the
same weapon, and one of the sons had his ear cut
open. Information was given to the police, and the
four brothers Connor, who bear the stone name and
are relatives of their intended victims, were arrested
as they were making their way home and fully identi
fled. They have becn lodged in Limerick Gaol.