The Sun.
London, England, 1824-01-13 00:00:00

IRELAND.

FATAL AFFRAY IN THE COUNTY OF WEXFORD,

(From the Kilkenny Moderator. )
The circumstances of the fatal occurrence a,
Taghmon, in the county of Wexford, on the night of Friday
last (2d instant), having been variously stated, the following
authentic particulars, derived from the polite communication
of a Gentleman who assisted in the official investigation of 'the
case, cannot but be highly acceptable :—lt appears that be-
tween the hours of eleven and twelve o'clock on the night in
question, which was the fair-night of Taghmon, Serjeant
Thomas ',Voyles of the police, now stationed at that place,
had entered a public-house for the purpose of clearing it of a
drinking party, and in the performance of that duty was struck
by one of the company; on which the serjeant went out,
returned with two others of the police, took the assailant into
custody, and conducted him to the guard-house. The police
then returned to the public-house, and on entering locked the
door. A mob had collected outside and attacked the house,
demanding the liberation of the prisoner ; when the sergeant
(Moyles), after repeatedly calling on the rioters to disperse,
and the windows of the house having been entirely demolished,
thought it necessary to the personal safety of his party to fire on
the crowd. The shot took effect—a young man of the name of Bren-
nan was mortally wounded, and after running a short distance
fell dead ! Two more shots were fired by the sergeant, hap-
pily without effect,' and the crowd ultimately dispersed. Moyles
was taken into custody by C. Waddy, Esq., the next resident
Magistrate, we believe; and on the ensuing day an inquest
was held on the body of the deceased, before three Magistrates,
in the absence of -the Coroner, who lived too remote from the
spot to attend on the instant, and a most respectable Jury.—Se-
veral witnesses were examined, and, after a minute inquiry into
this deplorable transaction, the Jury found—" That the deceased
James Brennan, of Kilgarvan, came by his death by a gun-shot
wound, inflicted by Sergeant Bloyles of the police establish-
ment." The fatal ball entered by die right collar-bone, pene-
trated the lungs, and lodged in the heart. 'Voyles has been
committed to prison. As endeavours may be made to attach
a party feeling to this melancholy occurrence we deem it right
to add, that Moyles, the police constable, is a Roman Catholic.

CAMBRIDGE, JAN. 10.—We have authority to
state, that a requisition for a county meeting is
in the course of signature, to consider the proper
measures to be pursued, in order to return to
ParliameLt, at the next General Election, two
Members for the County free of expence, follow-
ing the noble example and patriotic spirit lately
evinced by the Freeholders of the County of
Lincoln.---( Iluntingdon Gazette.)
SWANSEA, JAN. 9.--We congratulate our towns-
men on the immediate prospect of the opening of the whole line
of the New Canal which is to connect this port with the Vale of
Neath, and with the rich country eastward up to the Brecon
hills; it is now navigable through nearly the whole line, and
may he expected to be in full action within a few weeks from
this time. It extends nine miles in length, with a collateral
cut of a mile on one level, without a rock, and passes under
Neath Bridge, being separated from the river by solid masonry,
over which the towing-path is carried ; it is then raised by a
single lock to the level of Neath Canal, which it joins by a stone
aqueduct (of 10 arches) over the River Neath, connected with
another aqueduct of iron over a navigable stream adjoining—the
lock, with a bridge across the canal, and the two aqueducts, pre.
sent to the eye a line, "nee surfing 170 yards in length, of the
very best masonry, in causesof stone from neighbouring quarries,
not surpassed in quality by any in Great Britain. This work
immediately adjoins the picturesque water-fall of Dylais, was
commenced in May last, and has been executed without any
accident, although the land floods have been remarkable
high since that period ; the mountain torrents rose to the caps of
the arches, whilst in progress, without displacing a single stone.
As a specimen of taste as well'as of workmanship, this structure
does the highest credit to Mr. Wm. Kirkhouse the architect and
Mr.
engineer, to Wm. Davies, the working mason, and to Mr.
William Williams, the working carpenter. Illany other speci-
mens of striking skill and judgment in these individuals may be
observed-through the whole line ; the towing path (without a
single gate) will tempt horsemen, by the shortest cut between
Swansea and Neath, to enjoy the beauties of a very delight-
ful scenery ; whilst those who prefer pleasure-boats will have
full access to the like enjoyment, without the incumbrance
of locks ; and daily packet boars will -enliven the scene.—
We have much satisfaction in adding, that any apprehensions,
which some few individuals unacquainted with the whole design
may have hitherto entertained with regard to their particular
interests, have non., on better information, altogether subsided ;
all classes seem to unite in opinion, that this communication
will produce great public good, whilst they cordially concur in
the very liberal sentiments of the Gentlemen performing the
duties trustees, in respect of accommodations to the
has accomplished this work.--( The Cambrian.)
ATTEmPTEII SUlClDE.—YesterdaySutcrne.Yesterday morning, an
unfortunate man named Smith, keeper of the
watch-house in Lancaster-street, at the rear of
the Foundling Hospital, attempted to put a pe-
riod tu his existence, by discharging a large ca-
valryofindividualharbourwho pistol, heavily loaded with small shot, into
the lower part of the skull, beneath the right ear,
which caused a compound fracture of the bone,
carried away „ great part of the ear, and totally
destroyed the articulation of the jaw. The un-
fortunate man had been out the previous., night on
patrol, and had retired to rest as usual in the
morning ;
whin his wife went to call him about
ten o'clock, she found him literally steeped in
blood ; surgical assistance was immediately ob-
tained, and after a partial dressing of the wounds,
he was removed to the Middlesex Hospital for
further aid, but no hopes whatever were enter-
tained of his recovery. He attended Hatton-gar-
den Police-office on Saturday, and was to have ap-
peared before the Grand Jury Hicks's-hall yes-
terday, to produce some property committed to his
charge, by the Magistrate's order, on which bills of
indictment were preferred : the prosecutors having.
appeared, Smith was called, but no one answer-
ing, a messenger was sent off to desire his attend-
ance, who soon after returned with intelligence
that he had shot himself through the head 'a
few
minutes before ; from this circumstance, it was
supposed that in the interval he made away with
the property entrusted to his charge, and had
adopted this dreadful alternative in order to
escape punishment. By direction of the magis-
trates of Hatton-garden, Limbrick, one of the
officers, proceeded to the house, when the
wounded man was being removed ; and having
announced the object of his mission, every arti-
cle which Smith had in care was faithfully given
up to the, officer by his disconsolate wife; so that
the suspicion was manifestly unjust. There is
only one cause to which this rash act can be. at-
tributed; he was lately deprived of the situa-
tion of street-keeper, which he held under the
committee who have the management of the
Lancaster estate, and this deprivation preyed so
heavily on his spirits that he has often betrayed
Proofs of mental abstraction. He is represented
as a very sober tnan, and a most efficient officer.
In the, western part of Menniouthshire, a set
of vagabonds, commonly denominated Gipsies,
have been prowling about and committing vari-
ous depredations, decamping from one spot, and
transferring themselves to another, just in time to
escape the vigilance
.of the Magistracy. , One of
the gang professes to catch rats with a powder of
great efficacy, for which he endeavour, to get paid
when deposited either in whole or part, in which
case as little more is heard of him as of the .de-
struction of the vermin. People should be cautious
how any of these persons are admitted into their
houses on any pretence whatever. From Mon-
mouthshire the gang took their flight into a neigh-
bouring part of the county of Glamorgan, just in
time to prevent their being sent to Usk bride.
well.—(Carnbritin.)'