The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-09-20 00:00:00

ASSIZES IN IRELAND.
WHIMSICAL EXAMINATION.
CAIILOW'SAII Rooney, Charles Rooney, and
Join Lawler were indicted for maliciously, contemptu
wily, and unlawfully assembling and appearing in
arms. ea the night of the 28th of March nod 19th of
April, and assaulting Patrick Lemon.
Patrick Tenon examined by Mr. Kestorts.—Wit-
nese lives in the tow.nland of Knocksbar since 'fie was
horn ; is tenant to Captain Jacicson ; on'the night of
the 28th of March last the prisoners (Awe be iden-
tified) came to his house about half-past eight o'clock;
and asked Hite worked on the farm he bid Just taken ?
They entered the house by raising the latch, and asked
witness Whet was in. hen? Witness said be was. '4'6-
soners then desired (bins to "tarn out immediately,"
and one of them desired him to stand back, as they
were armed ; a shot was then fired in witness's face ;
it did not kill him, for there was no ball in the gun.
Witness was asked would be give up, the land, and
being frightened he said be would. The prisoners re-
mained outside the door. Between the 28th of March
and the 19th of April, witness took oat a lease of his
farm ; on the 19th they paid him another visit; the
prisoners and four others composed the party : a per-
son outside said--" Surround the villain's house, we
have him now; they broke the door in pieces; prior
1,, which witness said he would let them in ; they said
they would not take his ward for any thiug ; they
asked if he had taken out his lease; and one of the
party inside proposed to shoot witness, but this was
opposed from the outside by one of the prisoners;
they then said they would riot shoot him, they would
beat him in such a manner as to leave him -unable to
sill the farm, and inomediately put their threats into
execution, and struck him with their guns; the pri-
soners did-not-enter the •house but remained in the
yard ; they lived near witness ; some a quarter, a half,
and some two miles from him; witness was "'adored
unable to work from•the beating he got. On the 2,2 A
of May they again paid bins a visit, and gave him
anotherteating, as mach as did for him another while,
the prisoners were not present on this occasion.
Cross-examined by Counsellor R. C. WALKER.—I
suppose the prisoners are your neighbours and knew
you well ?—Are you a Counsellor? Am I entitled to
answer you any questions ?
• • Mr. WALESS.•••-t am, Sir, a Counsellor, and request
th it you will go on with your examination very quietly.
The first visit you say was paid you on the 28th of
Thrall i suppose you told the people next day what
happened, but you did not take up the party ?--Where
would you find a man in Ireland to do it, and the coun-
try the way it was ?
By virtue of your oath, Sir. don't you owe the prison-
ers and don't you come here to-day to prosecute
in consequence of a previous quarrel ?—lf we had quar-
rels they were ovld ones, and we settled them long
Since, but we owe no grudge.
Now, Mr. Wbitty wits the next Magistrate, , why
did you net go to him ? I suppose you were afraid ?
Faith you have just guessed it.—(Laughing.)
Now, though you-were afraid to go to Mr. Whitty's,
bow doss it happen that you were not afraid to live at
home 1-11 I had gone to Mr. Whitty's, I might be
shot htlere I got half way.-Laughing.)--Though
it wie*:darksaight ea-she Adds of -Musk, he could
ace prisoners, for they.took no palmate disguise them-
selves ; :Ind there was a large fire; the prisoners never
ran away, nor. does witness know when or where they
were taken, but heard it was when at their work;
, though the gallant Mr. Whitty lived near witness, he
,got a beating to his heart's content.—{Loud laugh-
* ing.)—Though the prisoners were uadtsguised they
lever attempted to run away..
To a Juror—Witness saw prisoners Wit. his house
ttiice, but they bad not arms. Witness himself was
never charged with being a Moll Doyle. ,The country
•, being in arms was the reason, witness &Islet give in-
formation sooner. •
John Donohoe. examined by Counsellor Cr.sexe.—
Witness lives at Ballyvie, in the Barony of Rathvilly,
within two miles of last witness. On the 28th March
a " a parcel" of men came to witness's house to look
for arms ; they fired into witness's window, shot a
dog, and demanded arms ; it was about twelve o'clock
at night ; they called themselves "Moll Doyles."
The prisoners made no defence, but called on Mr. J.
Laler and John Moorehouse, who gave them a good
character.
His Lordship briefly charged the Jury. One of the
indictments was under the White Boy Act. The ex-
treme youth of one of the prisoners should induce the
Jury to leave the capital Indictment out of their consi-
deration, particularly boil the circumstance of the pri-
soners not having foreed "he door. Any mercy shown
was by the prisoners, who it was sworn were outside the
doer during the attack.
•. They were acquitted on the capital indictment but
found guilty of the minor offence.
Patrick Keogh! indicted for appearing in arms,
and. i njurieg.,pad ;L4g.tbekebttationof Lame+
Headon. •
Lawrence Headon, examined by Mr.Kamatts.--;-
Witness resided at Cepenagls, in the heresy, et _Rath-
*illy, in this county. On the night of the -11th of
May last he sass in 'bed, and was alarmed by the
breaking in of his •windows. The party demanded'
witness's fowling-piece. Witness can't tell how many
came to his house; there might be twepty or thirty.
When witness told, them be had not a gun they threat-
ened to burn his house. Witness then opened the
'door, and one of the party presented a pistol at him,
and swore they would kill him and burn the house.—
[Here witness was told to identify the prisoner, bet, in-
stead of turning to the dock, he rivetted his eys on
Mr. R. C. Walker, who, it was expected, he was
was going to swear to as one of the Noll Doyles!)—
This produced roars of laughter in the Court.
He then turned to the dock; witness could only
identify the prisoner to the best of his knowledge, is
he did not appear in the same uniform as on the night
of the attack on his hollow.
Curer Ilanox.---Thea I suppose if be bad white
- cost and yellow waistcoat en him. you would swear
positively ?
Witness.—lf your own Lordship's Honour had bees
frightened oat of your sleep. by being threatened with
'Ai*, yen weakliest itleislietil tbo man
(Langhing.)—To be sure If there is the same
uniform, Vida. anti jrigaseist. I'd swear to him !"
':(Continuedleagleter)
Did you set swear peeltiebly to the id*
Mt. Whelan, the Magielsety t—l •