The Sun.
London, England, 1822-08-21 00:00:00

NFAMOUS CRUELTY.-(BULL BAIT

[FROM THE CHESTER COURANT, AUG. 20.]
The indignity -we feel at the infamous trans-
action we are about to relate, almost renders us incapable of
recording the facts, with the coolness of impartial Journalists.
The beginning of last week was the time of celebrating Eccleston
and Handbridge wakes ; and it was some time before ascer-
tained, that a number of unprincipled ruffians of the latter place,
intended to amuse themselves with that elegant and intellec-
tual treat—a Bull Beat. They were well aware, that by a
clause in our local act, which prohibits, these refined sports
in the city; they would be subjected to a visitation of the
law, if they attempted their exploit within the jurisdiction of
the City Magistrates. These gentry, however, not regarding
the morality of the law; though fearing its penalty, eon-
trivecl. to take their victim, a fine-bred bull, with the noble
animals which are considered its natural enemy, to the
•Dee-side, near sky-lane, where, being within low water-
mark, they expected to indulge their ferocity with impu-
nity. For three successive days, Monday, Tuesday, and
Wednesday, the inhuman sport was continued, until the
bull, swollen, lacerated and mangled, presented the most pi-
tiable and frightful spectacle. On one occasion, the poor
animnl, goaded to desperation, tore up the stake, and
plunged into the Dee, where the dogs followed him, and
where they renewed their desperate attack, the bull not
being able in the, water to act either offensively or in self-
defence. This was doubtlesn fine sport' for • the surrounding
•saYages, some of whom at length, fearful that the bull might
be torn to death or drowned in the river, and that the far-
ther amusement might be interrupted, or probably appre-
henSive that the value of the animal might be lost to tnem,
plunged into the water, and by the rope by which he was
held;* dragged him to the shore—to be Again, torn and
worried ! This is no fabulous description, drawn out to
excite hatred against a certain race of human beings ;—it is
a fact—a transaction not occurring at an Hottentot ,or an
Indian village—not in the, precincts of Juggernaut, but in a
Christian, and the most christianized country in the world—
and in a city which is distinguished as the residence of po-
liteness, piety, and -humanity ! The honour, we believe,
almost exclusively belongs to the men of Handbridge ; and
we think few besides will be found willing to claim a share
of it. In justice, however, •to the Magistrates of the city,
we must add, that no blime whatever attaches to them. On
the contrary, they exercised the utmost of their authority
to prevent the disgraceful scene. His 'Worship the Mayor
sent the peace-officers with a special message from himself
to expostulate and forbid the bull bait ; but they treated
his representations with the utmost contempt, putting him
and his officers to deflince. Out of respect to the liberties
of our country; we do not wish 'to see the law stretched
beyond its natural bounds—but on the present occasion we can-
not but wish that his worship had acted with " a vigOur beyond
the law." Two of the miscreants; however, have been caught
in their.own net.—On Saturday last, IlughJObtBoll and Wil-
liam
.Williams were. brought before the Sitting Magistrates
at the Exchange, and an information having been sworn
against them for unmercifully abuSing the animal ,above
referred to with. thick staves, they were both convicted in
the full penalty of '6l. each, under the Act lately passed for
preventing cruelty to animals ; and not being able to pay
..the money, were committed to gaol for the space of 3 months.
Never were we better pleased with a conviction, or with the
conduct of Magistrates for inflicting the utmost severity of a
penal act of Parliament. We heard that it was the intention
of some, of our. Boughton neighbours to have baited a bull at
their wakes this week, but if the brutal conduct at Handbridge
does not make them ashamed of their purpose; perhaps the
punishment. of Joinson and Williams will have some effect in
turning them from their purpOse.

CAMBERWELL FAIR
Commence:, on Monday, and was visited during the early
part of. the day-by many juvenile branches of families residing
in that genteel neighbourhood. The Magistrates generally pre-
serve order at this scene of amusement. On this occasion
they po4ted up the provisions of an Act passed in the reign of
his preseht Majesty, for the better regulation of Fairs, and
required all exhibitions, as well as public houses,' to be shut at
eleven at night. The arrangement of booths' and stalls for the
sale of toys, was remarkably neat. They had a display of
French goods which excelled in,neatness those of home mann-
faCtUre. We allude to ladies' fans, reticules, Bijonterie and
articles for the toilette. One of the most prominent exhibitions
was the Bonassus, who,had so long amused the passengers in
the Strand with the soft"tones of his voice. There was in fact
nothing worthy the name of 'novelty in the Fair. The whole
camp of showmen was struck last night, and, according to cus- j
tom, they marched off for Peckham Fair. which began this
day.

IrtgLANDo, . „
TRALEE, AuG.l4.-111uaina.
James Casey and Michael Hennessey were tried
and found guilty of the murder of Elizabeth
Kelly, on the Bth of July last. They were exe-
cuted on Friday last. It appears, that on the
trial the prisoner Casey had requested to speak
with Mr. Raymond, one of the witnesses against
him, and that it was his (Casey's) intention, bad
Mr. Raymond complied with the request, to have
stabbed him with a penknife.

CORK, AUG. 16.
Informations have been lodged before the Rev.
Mr. Herbert, a Justice of the Peace for this
County, of a very dreadful outrage committed in
his parish, Mourne Abbey, which lies in the
neighbourhood of Mallow. On the night of
Saturday last, about twenty men, well armed,
came into the parish, went to the houses of
several farmers resident in it, and compelled
them to take an oath against paying tithes,
&c. Mr. Herbert had let to his parishioners
leases of his tithes, for five years, on the terms
proposed by themselves, and the ruffians inquired
of the farmers if they had, in any instance, taken
such leases ; which in general they denied having
done, but were afterwards intimidated into
a confession of having committed this crime
against the edicts of the new legislators ; upon
which all who had been convicted of dissimu-
lation in this case, were seized, dragged out -
of their houses, stripped and flogged upon their
naked backs with a whip, for violating, as they
declared, the orders of " General R,ock." To
the above outrages we are sorry to have to
add, that a notice was on last Monday night post-
ed on the Oven church, threatening with destruc-
tion those who should pay any tithes. A large body,
supposed to be White Boys, passed Grange-house,
at a very late hour on the same night ; this no-
tice was taken down the next morning by the
Rev. Mr. O'Riordan, the Parish Priest. Mr.
Pratt, the Rector of the Parish, is particularly
moderate in his tithe charges, and indulgent in
receiving payment.