The Sun.
London, England, 1822-03-04 00:00:00

THREE ATTEMPTS AT MURDER

On Saturday last, at one o'clock, as Lieut. Stewart, of the
42d Highlanders in company with Mr. C. R. Shelton, of
Rossniore, was riding near his post, at Kilmeedy, they were fired
at from behind a ditch, but providentially escaped, the ball hav-
ing passed the back of Mr. Shelton's bar, although the distance
was less than ten yards from which the assassin took his aim.—
A few clays previous, a party of the rebels lay in wait for this
active Officer, expecting he would walk out near Kilmeedy, but
their plan was defeated. This is the third time this Gentleman,
in discharge of his duty, has nearly fallen a victim to the savage
barbarity of those lawless insurgents, who evidently have
marked him as a prey. No reason can be assigned for thiS ap-
parent dislike, but his very great activity in patroling, and
searching suspicious persons.
About two o'clock on Sunday, a servant man of John Sulli-
van of Camas, Esq. was fired at from behind the orchard ditch
th-'6, but narrowly escaped. No reason can be assigned for
sue unprovoked felony, but a wish to have this servant leave
the house, in order to have liberty to pillage the improvements,
which are now the best on Lord Courtenay's estates—Mr. S.
being obliged to repair to Newcastle to lodge.
An attempt was made on Saturday to assassinate the wood-
ranger at Tervoe. He returned the shots, but without effect,
as the villains precipitately fled.
A party of insurgents attacked the house of Adam Miller,
of Garrane, near Patrick's-well, on Sunday night, and though
they were gallantly beat off by Miller and his son, yet they
succeeded in setting fire to the house, which was consumed to
ashes, together with an out-house, and one cow. George Tuthill,
Esq. of Faha, the landlord, has offered a reward of 501. for
the conviction of the persons concerned.
On Friday evening at seven o'clock, 33 head of black cattle
were taken by an armed party of Insurgents, from offthe lands
of Killoready, near Newcastle, the estate of John Maher, Esq.
Also seven cows and one bull, the property of Phillip Holland,
Esq. were taken off the farm of Shanrath. These lands are
within two miles of the garrison town of Newcastle, and were
in the occupation of the above gentlemen, as they did not con-
ceive the rents oared by the former old tenants to meet their
approbation. It is rather singular that such a number of cattle
could be taken away unnoticed at so early a period of the night,
and carned out on the high road through the village of Castle-
manon, and proceed to the mountains without the view or
knowledge of any individual until next morning.
The house of a man named Gorman, near the front gate of
Beechmount, near Rathkeale, was thrown down on Monday
•
night
_ _ • _

'Sfonday last, three men in female apparel and well armed,
went to a field near the Old Chapel of Rathkeale, and drove off
some farmers that were ploughing.
It having been privately communicated that the insurgents
intended to burn the church at Knocksay, in this county, on
Friday night, the Rev. John Preston, Rector of the Parish,
frustrated their Intention, by procuring a military party, which
are still stationed convenient.

The burning of Castle-Mahon House, and Offices,

and total destruction of the property.
On Monday night, about eight or nine o'clock, the house of
Mr. White was again visited. The party surrounded the house
with the most cautious silence, and without any other alarm,
immediately set the, house and extensive offices on fire, to.
gether with several stacks of corn, amounting to about 20 or
25 (wheat, barley, and oats). These cowardly assailants,
with the greatest coolness, refused to admit any one of the family
from the tumbling conflagration. There were in the house at
the time, Mrs. White, four young children, the governess, and
six servants. Just as the dreadful catastrophe was about to
close in the deepest tragedy, a party of the 42d regiment, under
the conduct of Serjeant Schism, rushed forward with the warm
humanity and resolved spirit of a true soldier, rescued this
whole family from the most appaling and imminent death,
pursuing the murderous incendiaries through orchards and wild
intricacies, in the dark, until one villain was secured, who, this
moment affects the Most unbroken dumbness. The soldiers
after this aflbrded every assistance in extinguishing the .flames,
and endeavouring to save some wreck of the property. The
cold-hearted pursuit of these men after Mr. White may be seen
in this—that on the very night L.fore, they came as it were to
apologize for the trouble and injury done heretofore. They
strewed every symptom of grace, and said that Mr. W. might
return to his house, and that for the future they should
live in a good and friendly neighbourhood.—They then retired,
leaving the most deceitful impressions on Mrs. -White. Mr. W.
had been forced to lodge some time back in Newcastle, and
most providentially paid no attention to thesc cajoling invita-
tions. Castle-Mahon is part-of the estate of Thomas O'Grady,
Esq., Surveyor-General.

Newcastle, Feb. 26.
Monday night a house belonging to the Lord Chief Baron
was burned on the lands of Grange, near Newcastle—and also
a house belonging to Mr. Holland, at Shanrath, was burned
and his cattle taken- away. Two houses, within a pistol shot
of the town, were consumed on Sunday night. These were
formerly in litigation with Mr. Hoskins, the late Agent to the
estate.

Same night, six in calf cows and one fat bullock were taken
away from off the lands of Appletown, the property of Lady
Muskerry.
Last night, a large stack of hay, the property of Mr. Power,

of Rathkeale, was burned on the farm of Ballyfrawny, near
Newcastle.

The same night, two bows were taken from Edward Shet!by,
Esq.—and some time before there were six sheep taken from off
his lands.

Last night, while the army of Kilmeedy were at Castlema-
hon, 13 cows, the property of John Maher, Esq. were taken
out of the Pound at Kilmeedy by the Whiteboys, having 'been
put there as a place of safety. These make in all 46 head taken
from that Gentleman.

This night will produce more evil deeds, you would perceive
it in the-countenance of those barbarians who crowd the streets
seeking news, and to know\ how the public mind feels.
A letter from Rathkeale, dated nine o'clock last night, says,
We are now, at this moment, looking out of the windows, and
are illuminated with houses on fire all about the country.'

Krunr.—On tl.e night of Wednesday last, a gang of
Whiteboys visited the house of a Police Constable, named
Gloster, on the lands of Clounmillane, between this town and
Killarney. On entering the house, the leader of the banditti
demanded the constables' pistols (knowing he had been
robbed of his carbine by a parry of those freebooters some time
.before).—Gloster denied having any pistols, but the leader
having obtained a light, went directly to the spot where the
pistols were concealed and seized them. He then desired the
Constable to look minutely at him and say if he knew him ; en
being answered in the negative, he offered no further violence.
On Gloster's venturing to hint his surprise that such outra .es
would be persisted in, and the Insurrection Act in force, the
ruffian's reply was " To the D-1 we pitch the Insurrection
Act and tl;c framers of it."