The Statesman.
London, England, 1824-01-20 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN

IRELAND .
..—.....
coNDucr oF TIM POLiCi.
angIIONII Or TRIM—JAM. 9, 1824.

The King, at thP prnserution of Thomas Carroll v.
Serjeant Richard Lawry, Serjeant Bernard Timmons.
William Roe, and James M'Culltrgh, Mike Constables.

The traversers were charged with assaulting Thomas
Carroll, at Summer Hill, in the County of Meath, on the
25th November last. During the trial the Assistant Bar.
rimier presided alone.
Thomas Carroll having been sworn, deposed that on the
25th November last, the fair day of Summer Hill, he was
at the fair ; about half past five o'clock he mat Mr. Barks
and Mr. Trotter there ; whilst passing Tracy's house, saw
a policeman present his piece twice ; was shocked ; called
on him not to fire on the people ; 'proceeded to the market
house ; one of the policemen passed, and dropped down in
the street ; the policeman was drunk; witness took him up
in his arms ; inquired of another policeman who and of
what division the drunken man was; Timmons asked wit.
ness what authority he had to ask such a (minion, and im-
mediately attacked witness, and cut at him with his gun
across the thigh ; witness took hold of the gun; witness
then asked Timmons to go with hint to Serjeant Lantry,
who knew witness, and would protect him ; be then let go
the gun, and went to Kain's house, where Serjeant Lantry
was ; Timmons attacked witness a second time at the door
of Kain's house, striking with his gun; and then pot it in
a half present, whereupon witness raised it, and went into
the house to see Serjeant Lsntry ; when io the house, the
landlady said that was Mr. Trotter's son, (mistaking wit-
nets for him); Lantry exclaimed, no matter whose son he
is, put out the rascal ; witness was then forced out ; was
punchei with the butt of the gun ; Roe struck him • blow
on the side of the head which knocked off his hat ; witness
then went to Mr. Trotter's gate ; saw the police come up
pursuing the people; they had turned out of Kain's house;
they knocked one man down ; saw a Peeler, of the name
of Oun, whom he knew ; spoke to him on the treatment
be had received ; called on him to protect him till he
would point out those that assaulted him ; went with gun
to the barracks, and met all the police collected there ; Mr.
Trotter told Lantry what happened ; went to the office to
have the matter arranged ; asked Lantry to get a candle to
identify the persons who assaulted him; Lantry disap
peered and did not return ; called Lantry ; went up stairs ;
heard a policeman tell a woman to get a candle to look
fur the fellow who was gone in, to give him more, as he
was looking for law ; met 51'Cullogis at foot of the stairs ;
the candle went out; the moment the candle was out wit-
ness was struck with guns ; ran through the police, who
cried out to catch him.

After the prosecutor had been cross examined and other
witnesses ha•l confirmed his testitnouy, the case for the
prosecution closed.

For the traverser. were examined, Patrick Magrath,
police Constable, who stated, he was the man that levelled
the gun at the people at 'Tracy's lions., but that it was
not charged ; and that lie did it in consequence of having
been struck in the breast by a stone ; and further. that he
was the man that fell in the street, but it was not from
drunkenness; he was sober; he fell across the stumps of
a tree ; he contradicted the witness for the prosecution ;
as did also John lownes and Henry Walsh, police consta-
bles; the latter of these witnesses accused the prosecutor
of constantly heading mobs, and following the police; but
when asked why be did not take him up when h. was so
acting, he gave no answer.

The assistant harri.ter charged the Jary at some length
and a verdict of gnilty was found against Timmons, Roe,
and M'Cullogb—Serjeant Lantry was acquitted.—On the
next day they were brought up for judgment, when Mr.
Nugeut of Gis'lerickard, a Magistrate, stated he wished
to speak to the character of Titnmoss, On being sworn,
he stated Timmons and M•Cnllogh 'were two excellent
constables; knew Timmons to have acted with great
temper on one occasion, when his piece was broken
on him.

Lieutenant Despard wished to state why the inquiry did
notA o on,

- .
M. Carroll declined to proceed, as there was no Magis-
trate, and said he could not expect impartial justice; they,
therefore, wished the trial should proceed Were the Civil
Authority,

The Assistant• Barrister then proceeded to give the judg-
ment of the Court.—lle stated, be was sorry to find a man of
'flinitions's character in such a situation; believed really
the constables were not swearing the truth ; the Jury were
of that opinion, and he perfectly agreed with them. The
conduct of Mr. Carroll wes very praiseworthy; he acted very
properly in bringing forward this trial. Ilse constables
would be protected by the Magistrates, while acting
nithin their duty; but they had from ignorance of that
duty transgressed; they had no right to turn any person
out of a public-house, except idle persons, denominated
by the law, tipplers, or, those who might be engaged in
riots; nor had they a right to stop persons in the streets
at any hour, (except in a proclaimed district) provided
they were conducting theinlelves peaceably; they had a
right to ask any person who he was, and no loyal or well
disposed person would refu e giving them an answer.
There was some justification for floe, as be was acting
under the orders of his serjeant. There was no direct
evidence against M•Cullogh, but he 'opposed, as he was
standing at the foot of the stairs when the candle went
out, the Jury, presuming him to have been the man that
struck the blow, found him guilty.

.. -
As it might be of great injury to the public servire. a.
that moment, to confine Serjeant Timmons, the Court
would not sentence him to !any confinement; be Amnia
pay a fine of 51., M Cullogh 11., and Roe 55., and be
discharged. On a subsequent application by the prose-
cutor, the fine on Timmons was reduced to IL. 'and the
Prosecutor's expenses 2/. ; and to ten shillings on M'Cul-
logli, which was paid in Court, and the parties were
discharged.

Friday morning, about one o'clock, a fire broke out in
the workshops occupied 67 Mr. James, soap boiler and tal•
low chandler, in Horse Street, Bath, which, as the pre*
Mises extended through into Wine Street, and were sur
rounded by low boasts, threatened destructive cons*.
Tiences ; but the timely arrival of several engines
belonging to the Fire Ogres of that city, and partici'•
larly that of Messrs. Collet and Falkner, and the able
assistance of the firemen, many inhabitants, and in peril'
cuter, two highly courageous individuals, Mr. lAsarus, of
Stal.•street, and the Rev. Mr. Hanby, the latter of whom,
" disdainful of danger," ascended the roof of the house, at
the peril of his life, and with heroic firmness. continued to
battle with the merciless element, in directing a supply
of water in the most efficient manner, until the fire
was entirely subdued. Nor ought we to omit to mention
the essential services which were rendered by Messrs. White,
Newman, and many others. Mr. Gerrish prevented the fire
from extending to his premises by a small hand engine. We
underat4nd the whole of the property was insured; the loss,
we hear, is considerable, as during the alarm which pervaded
the owner, some infamous wretch or wretches stole a watch
and cash to the amount of SO/. or &W. besides goods, &e. At
the commencement of the fire, some difficulty arose to procure
water ; we think every engine should have a water key at-
tached to it, to open the pipes. in rder that a supply of water
may be obtained without any delays on such occasion.

RARE INSTANCE Or CONJUGAL AFFECTION I 11—An
instance of real and permanent cenjtvgal affection was pro.
duced in evidence at the Gloucester county sessions, which
has never perhaps been paralleled in the annals of humility.
In an appeal cause, a woman who was there as witness,
swore that she had never lost sight of her•husband for 12
hours together at any one thew either day or night, during
a period of 50 years.