Star.
London, England, 1823-08-07 00:00:00

IRELAND.

COUNTY OF ARMAGII, ASSIZES.
Mims Afgerts was indicted, for that he, being a
Popish priest, did unlawfully celebrate a marriage.
at Newry, between John Timmons, a Protestant, and
Bridget Meehan, a Papist, they not having been pre.
viously married by a Protestant clergyman.
Bridget Meehan lives in Newry. Witness was
married to John Timmons about three yearsago ; the
marriage was celebrated by Mr. Myens, at his house
in Newry. Timmons then lived in the service of
Captain Ogle. Witness was bred a Catholic, but
cannot say what religion she now is ; she was willing
to go with her husband wherever he went ; he goes
to church. Captain Ogle's gamekeeper, Walter
Dunlop, and his wife, were at the marriage. Mr.
Myens gave her a written paper, as a certificate of
her marriage ; she can neither read nor write; gave
the certificate to the Reverend Mr. Stuart. Witness
did not recollect what ceremony was gone through.
Mr. Myens asked Timmons if he would have the
church service read ; there was either a ring or a key
used : it was put on her finger and on Timmons's.
Cross-examined.--She. has two children to the man
she calls her husband—the eldest is about two years
and a half old, the youngest about a fortnight old.
(This infant she had then at her breast.) There had
been no disagreement between them, and she had no
desire that the match should be broken; she could not
swear positively, that the paper she gave Mr. Stuart
' was the same as had been given to her by the
prisoner, as she could not read it; she had always.
carried it in her pocket.
The Rev. A. G. Stuart produced a certificate of
marriage, which he identified as the same that was
given to him by the last witness. He added, that he
had been ansious to bring the case forward, on ac-
count of the frequency of similar pretended Tar-
' riages of Catholics and Protestants, and Protestants
and Catholics: his object was to protect the commu-
nity from the irregular manages of the prisoner,
whose conduct was reprobated as well by every
respectable Catholic Clergyman as by the Ministers
of the Established Church.
Jbhn Timmons.—ls a Protestant. Was married to
Bridget Meehan about three years ago: the marriage
was celebrated by the prisoner, in his own house, in
Monaghan-row, Newry ; he went to the prisoner to
marry him, in order to free himself from a promise
he had made to the women: remembered the cere-
mony ; the prisoner put a ring on witness's finger ;
Walter and Ann Dunlop were present. Witness paid
9s. 2d. to Mr. Miens, for performing the marriage.
Cross examined.—Witness did not think himself
married ; the woman said she was his wife, but wit-
ness.thought otherwise. He thought the ceremony a
compound." Witness never lived with her as her
husband. She had two children to him : did not
want to get rid of her; he was not tired of her : ad-
mitted that he wanted to marry another woman ; was
called in Church for that purpose about three weeks
ago. -Bridget Meehan forbade the bans the second
time; she was delivered of a second son about a fort-
night ago: he wanted another wife, and LORD
knows how many wives he may have !" Witness be-
lieved the prisoner to be a married man ; at least he
had a woman living with hint. After the ceremony
the woman asked for her marriage lines, and he sat
down and wrote a paper, which be gave her. -
Trevor Corry, Esq. knew the prisoner, who. was a
reputed Popish Priest, but understood he had been
degraded from his office; never before heard be Was
married. In consequence of repeated complaints
against the .prisoner for celebrating marriages be-
tween Protestants and Catholics, the present action
bad been brought to put a stop to this highly inju-
rious practice.--The prisoner was found Gag,.
There was a general commiseration shown for
the unfortunate woman who had been deceived by
Timmons; and the effrontery be displayed, while
giving his evidence, excited the disgust of all present.
The Learned Judge lamented the necessity of the
case, as the law had virtually dissolved the marriage
of the parties : he suggested to Mr. Stuart (the curate
of Newry), the propriety of taking the advice of Dr.
Radcliffe, respecting the course to be pursued, and
hoped that in the meantime he would not celebrate
marriage between Timmons and any other woman,
to which Mr. Stuart assented.

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The Leeds ilferarry says-.. 0 An Inquest has been
bald on the body of the-Ilev. Mr. Sargeant, who died,
as stated in our last, by the overturning of the Leeds
coach, when a verdict of Manslaughter was returned
against G. Smith, the coachmin. Mr. Lloyd and Mr.
Itewdall continue in imminent danger."
Mr. Musa, who some time since gave exhibitions
of the Life Preserving Dress, was drowned on the
26th ult. in the canal Camndelit, at New Orleans,
which he had gone for the purpose of bathing.
He was discovered the ensuing morning with his
bead out of water, and his feet 'sticking in the mud.
Fonosay.—A system has prevailed, within the last
few years, of robbery and plunder, attended with the
crime of forgery, that has caused great alarm in the
commercial world. During the last fortnight two in-
stances have occurred, both individuals previously
holding a respectable rank in society as tradesmen.
The plan adopted by them was to go to a bill-broker,
with Tor 8001. of forged bills out of date, and request
the loan of £5OO upon them, until they come within
the two months. The apparent respectability of the
person asking the favour, with the known character
and respectability of. the supposed acceptors and in-
dorsers, was quite sufficient for the broker; the
money was always advanced, and just before the
bills became due they were regularly called for by
the party that had received the money, and taken up.
It has since been ascertained that a fresh Manufacture
of forged bills was prepared in time to cover the
others, and at length brokers and private individuals,
when the detection took place, had bills belonging
• • one of these Men amounting to upwards cif E 1 2,000.,
Is said that the other person that has absconded
had obtained nearly kali .phis. Both parties bud re- i
gularly organiied their plan, previous to escape r their
plate was melted into crib, all disposable > flitittta
sold, and every friend or acquaintance,they bor-•
row CIO from were • duped. A week before their
flight they used to call Jibes after skis the eveaini,
beg the loan of a few.posmdS; as their bankers were
shut, and they stood is motto( a teMpOcary sum at
their country residences.

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