The Sun.
London, England, 1847-11-30 00:00:00

ing these crimes to which I hare alluded. I have shown
examples of this necessity by instance, chiefly from Li•
merick and Tipperary, partly from Clare and the King's
County, and in two instances, Fermanagh and Roscom-
mon. I have shown the prevalence of crimes of a fear-
ful and appalling character, and I have shown that
grave offences have, in numerous cases, arisen from the
reckless use of fire-arms on the part of those sent for-
ward by the secret tribunals ; but there is too much
reason to believe that other weapons are used by these
combinations besides fire-arms. I speak not of the axe
or the stone of the assassin, but such weapons are not
deemed necessary to be used in all cases. I hold in my
hand a letter which I recently received from London-
derry, but which has a direct relation to the murder of'
Major Mahon, and to the counties of Roscommon and
Mayo. The letter, which bears the Strokestowu post-
mark (Major Mahon's property), was addressed to Mrs.
M'Causeland, the wife of the cousin of Major Mahon,
and it contained another letter addressed to Mr. M'Cause-
land. This is the report which has been sent to me,
with respect to those letters :
(Copy) " County of Londonderry, Nov. 16.
" I have to report that a threatening letter of a very
violent nature, with the Stroke stown post-mark was
received by Marcus M'Causeland, Esq., justice of the
peace and deputy-lieutenant of Fruit-hill, near this
town, by post on the 14:h instant. Mr. M'Causeland,
who holds considerable property in Roscommon, was
first cousin to Major Mahon, who was so recently mur-
dered near Strokestown. What marks this case with a
deeper atrocity is the fact that the letter to Mr. M'Cause-
land was enclosed in one addressed to Mrs. M'Causeland,
and was, consequently, opened by her, causing her deep
distress and alarm. Copies of both letters are herewith
Madam,—As
e a[wed
lines,np y,
Afas
apprizingletter
teke
utyo
003uf rosf .
transmitted :
gratitude,
yMo u• Crs
aups epllraownardei.thl
]
"i
nt
gu
fate.
teeu.
these
I am to inform you that, unless Mr. M'Causeland be-
comes a better landlord in this country, he will share
the same fate as the demon Major Mahon did. There
are resolutions made in this country to take
down all the tyrannizing landlords. He (Mr.
M'Causeland) is numbered amongst them unless
he changes, and give a full remittance of all
the arrears that is due to him, and begin
in the new with his tenants. As to think that be is far
from the rath of the country it is useless ; the Cone
naught men are determined, and perhaps meet him iss his
own demesne. There is two men appointed for the expo"
dition, they are to begin their journey on the 11th inst.
I hope that you will not suffer yourself to be a widow,
the same as Mrs. Mahon. As to Ross Mahon, the cries
of the starred and desolated have reached the heavens,
and, after shooting him, he is to be hanged and quar-
tered, unless he quits Ireland. There is a fund at pre.
sent in this country, the subscribers chiefly in America,
for shooting oppressors. I take the liberty of informing
you of the fate of the oppressors.' Addressed on the
outside—' To Mrs. M'Causland, Fruit-hill, Newtown
Limavady ; post-office, county Londonderry. Poet'
mark, Strokestown, Nov. 12, 1847 ; Longford.'
"'Nov. 12, 1847 ; Dublin, Nov. 13, 1847 ; N•
Limavady, Nov. 14, 1847.—(Copy of a letter to Mr.
M'Causeland, Roscommon.)—Honoured Sir—As a token
of gratitude for a former kindness bestowed on me and,
my family, I write you these few lines apprising you of
maner
yv oilulr s
than
approachingemue efate.re
fate
at Ua
present
n l
3e, so ati r
tyoukinsman
ny
she
met, become on mt
tel
seen e
yeti
t
demon Major Mahon did. I am to inform you thatth
re
are resolutions made in this country to take down
all tyrannizing landlords. You are numbered amongst
them, which I do sorely regret, unless you
give a full remittance of the arrears and begin
in new from the Ist of August last. As to think yoU
are far away, their vengeance will overtake you ;
the Connaught men are real determined. If you do not
comply to this, fly to England on receipt of this until
the times mends, as you may depend on it I would not
give three farthings for your life before the Ist ot-
November. If it was known I wrote you this, I would
share the same fate as is intended for you, so hold it to
yourself. As to Ross Mahon, any part of Europe he
goes to he will fall if known where he is. There is •
fund at present formed in this country for shooting Or
pressors, the subscribers chiefly American emigrants
from this country. There is two men appointel_t.o.r
going to the northern counties to you and a Mr.
dulls, 'county of Cavan. They are to begin their joil!lle
on the 11th instant. Unless you change your way from
oppression take heed to the contents of this. if you
make any effort to goodness you will often bear from M.;
—I remain, for your welfare,' Sec." Letters in some
cases have been addressed to the wives of lindowners;
in order that should the gentlemen themselves have
nerve to withstand, alarm and anxiety /night
created iu the mind of those most nearly connected wlffi
them—that alarm and anxiety which could not fail to he
excited when such letters were addressed to the wives
of those who are so marked out, and who might pine la_
hourly apprehension for the safety of those who were
dear to them lest such threats should be carried
into
execution. Is it to be wondered at if, in consequence f_
such a state of things, so many are flocking to Dubl.:
or this country, neglecting thelcare of their properties
I will not say neglecting—but flying from their duties.
I should now wish, before entering upon the other pal
of the subject—and still with reference to the state 01
Apfer. t yßtsaeyslsyi
as the country—to read to the House the memorial of the
themurder
magistrates
of
assemheb
let©e
d in t
count of the present condition of the district with
which they have to do. (The Right Honourable
session Nvienng their tie.
, after
agh
Baronet then read the memorial, which detailed
at length the fearful state of society.) A'
it might be said that they were actuated by feeling;
of alarm, and that their account is highly coloured, le'
me call the attention of the House to an extract from •
remarkable document which I have received from the
Lord-Lieutenant, comprised in a letter addressed w his
Excellency by Mr. Sergeant Howley, after returnin.g
from presiding at the quarter-sessions held at Neoagn:
The learned gentleman said, " I have now stated some es
the cases which you wilt have to investigee at the Pr(!:,.
sent fessions, and numerous as they are, and maul
them very serious, it would still be satisfactory' if they
_
presented the full picture of the present condition of
county. It is truly alarming, and none but the Wi
er.
turbers are without apprehension and fear. All law .
the arms of the assassin govern, control, and punish al-
mostt
p
pears to be pushed aside, and threatening Rakes and
every exercise of right, of property, or of du
from the written threats they havehe received,
shadow of death.
their daily avocations they walk in t
Those whom the blow has not yet reached knowanthdeftet
No courage, no precaution, no life,
comprehensive,
no benevolence, however large and
whet! the
saves the victim from his doom ; and e
it would OP sr
bloody deed is accomplished,
for no
as if it was the work of an invisible hand,
seen.
however blameless—
trace is found, no information gleaned, no eye _hat
the perpetrator of the crimHear, hear.)
Ser-
geant Howley to the grand jurors of the county of
have just read is an extract from the address of 3,15.fr5:..
ne 0
by perso
" The acquisition and possession of arms
earner/4
perary. The letter to which I have referred also say
the worst character was the subject of general
rs
and !general reprobation. A general fear apiatrailel
pervade all ; no person, if he could avoid it, would
9'
after nightfall. Some of the gentlemen summoned
__
grand jurors made private statements, which.
would
grounds for believing to be correct, that their lives
5;1;
be in danger if they attempted to return
had received threate
exemption on this ground—they
of the letter he says :---
ing notices." In another part the business of the day concluded, and ear.nestlymesougnh!
prevails
; the humble, the weak,
that servile tyranny now
a
Prevalike to its relentless rule.
the defenceless, are subjected
" But it is not alone over the better r wealthier classes
Many examples of this come before me. I was sorry
to observe
that the repeated acts of assails
tna ion and murder which are now occurring
Tipperary tend in some measure to lour*
the impunity
by dtaednint the
perpetrators, not only by °Pe'
rating
of the well-disposed, but in moms
degree
on
rthe moral sense. There was •
ti •
ehoeffea
when the felonious taking of human life was a sadden•
ing and painful surprise to those who heard it, shocking
the feelings, rousing up the general indignation, ri
exciting an unsual activity to apprehend the crimino,
r the
hare latterly observed the account of the murder
best men beard without much emotion, and referred
yeell
as topics of conversation, without any strong too „IN_
of the feelings. The sensibilities of the hearet_wu......u...
under other circumstances, lessen the chances f.0n.P.,,a
ni 'ty to the offender, and are, in a well regulated.
reventton of
of things, no mean assistance towards the p int°
greater offences, are in danger of being deadened
_me be'
inactivity, unless the progress of unpunished crime
speedily checked."—(Hear. hear.) Other passages
the
this letter, in connexion with the reports given
.et ,;ed
murder of the man Hill, in Limerick, show the tiellob
and unrestricted possession of fire-arms by all classeL_
the people. It is stated that, in former times, wllll .70a
were heard the attention of the police were attract
there was some chance, if a crime had been conotlt'tl;
of the arrest of the perpetrators; but now, owingfi e
red 11/
indiscriminate possession of fire-arms, shots are 0 the
all times of the day and night, and in all pleeess.!•
most reckless way. And the natural effect of this
..s
tinued fusilade, within sight and hearing of ie--
valry and infantry barracks, and the police statio e the
that the report of firearms is now no intimation
military or police that a crime has been comreltt_euit
(hear, hear.) If they were to proceed in the chr et;
woula
of every report of fire-arms they heard, they In
one
literally have nothing else to do.--,(Hear, hea.r.)
of the documents relating m
to the murder of s , _li ripe
constable states that in the immediate in ity of the
L_Lto
where the crime was committed, and within two oe
after its occurrence, be heard and counted as man!.. of
giro
forty shots—(Hear, hear)—fired, perhaps saw.._,
bravado, expressive of triumph at the deed n, the
distracting
been done, or perhaps for the purpose of ala
attention of the police.—(Hear, hear.) Referring
to the letter of Mr. Sergeant Howley, I find this rwite
sage with reference to the subject:—" When be
lately in Tipperary, passing along the
high r"
the der'
tween Clonmel and Caher, at one o'clock ill
panied by
that day Sunday—l observed a person,
acc"n the road
two others, present a large horse pistol across
and fire. He then passed across to see the
.nie:logc
his shot, and was reloading for another ...ignst
as I drove up opposite to where he stood• _
..:nowed
say he obligingly me allowed to pass before Def; heard
his practice. Every half hour shots rnsi towns,
in the fields, on the roads, in the streets or. theFor-
nig
in the suburbs, and this by day and by st owe
merly, when the report of a gun was heard, "e warn..
m
attracted the attention of the police, and was eo,
violence
ing, if at an unseasonable hour, that some act ? of fire-
the noise as
or outrage was being committed. But
least operates
arms no longer gives any notice, or at ,
_clover?,
such. The police woteld be constantly runninrg
and forward if they attended to every report
The Right lion. Gentleman continued—I thi ,ictience to
have now laid before the House sufficient evi _dies
Lure f the r
show, that whatever :may be the nature o
th
ustao Al
.we shall propose, or' whatever may be