The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-07-02
Standardization of Justice in ireland.

| Standardization Of Justice in ireland.
A circumstance of very extraordina-
ry nature has taken place in the sister
kingdom, which demands the attention
Of the country and the legislature. II is
detailed in the Dublin Herald, in letter
dated Meath, April 9 and if not exag-
gerated, affords a deplora5le example OF
the acrimoDy and bitterness of party-spir-
it still raging in that unhappy country
| Indeed, if such things arc to be tolerated,
so long viii Ireland be crushed, degre.
ded, aand goadcd TO desperation, by D
despiaable faction.
In the month of Janunry last, 1--WE
draw the facts from the Herald) an old
woman, named Jane Moffat, hitherto a
reputcd Protestants in the neighborhood
OF Meath, having, in the hour of sickness,
some mis-siviDgs touching her ortho-
doxy, sent for the rev. Edward Hutton,
Roman Catholic curate, of that town, to
receive from him the rights of his church.
This summons Mr.. Hutton thought it his
duty to attend to. Previous TO his going,
having heard that the relatives of the
woman were determined to do him some
bodily injury if he went, he requested
the protection of the police constable,
which that officer refused, telling him
that if shsts zrere discharged a; Sim, 10
come back and let him know l.! Mr.. Hut
ton reached thehouse of the sick wo>
man unmolested; and on her expressing
wish to commune with him, Moffat,her
husband, swore he would stab him if he
approached. The sick woman hearing
this, said, "For the honor Of God, to have
the priest allowed to her." Mr.. Hutton,
On heing thus opposed, withdrew, declar.
ing he did not mean to violate the law, or
to insult or harm Moffat. On his depar
ture, the sick woman prevailed upon
her daughters to remove her to another
house, where Mr.. Hutton might attend
her and where, at the earnest request,
as seemed TO him, of the dying woman,
he waited upon her, and then returned
homewards, unconscious of any tumult
IN any quarter. During the removal of
the woman an ARRAY took place between
Richard Mullins,and her n-law--the
clergyman being at considerable dis
lance. The husband and Mullins imme.
| diateiy sought neighboring magistrate,
| Mr. Daly) who received their informa-
lions against the clergyman, and another,
tor riot and assault
| The trial occurred on the Cd inst. al,
the quarter sessions. Mr.. Hutton NOV
ed that 1t be deferred for few hours,
till the arrival of MIR Fallen, his counsel,
| who was on his way from the Galway as
sizes, and who had himself written to the
assistant barristeI, soliciting a short
pause until he could arrive. This was
refused, and the trial was forced on,
twelve men (proteslants) being selected
as jury, from the humble walks of life,
Moffat, husband of the woman, and Jane
and Richard Mullins, two witnesses tor
the crown, swore, in the course of their
examination, that they 7VouEd kill anu
FarfSh priest who zUouid dare TO admins
Ter tie rites ofhis religion TO Gny Oftheir
family These humane expressions
drew no observations from their worships
on the bench. The only evidence in sup
port OF the Indictment was MoEat's testi.
mony OF Mr.. Hutton, saying, "That if
the woman was removed TO another place
ne woulc spiritually attend her.:' But
'hlS was coniradicted by Moffat's daugh-
Ter, and two other witnesses. Ihe
priest, in defence, rendered the old wo.
man who had sent for him, but this evil
oence the bench refused to admit. Sew
| erai other witnesses distinctly proved,
'nat' at the time Of the alledged riot and
assault, Mr.. Hutton was not within thirty
perches OF the place and was actually
On his way home. The barrister, in
summing up, dwell on the s'enormity"
OF the offence, and told the jury, "Tho'
II seemed DIR. Hutton was not present at
,he assault or riot, still, in the eye of the
law, ne was TO be considered as princi-
pal IN Reimbursement as both were con
Sequent on bis attendance on MofEafs
"ie' The jury in consequence return
co verdict against the traverser, and
me bench almost Immediately sentenced
hr' Hutton 10 tgyetUe months imtiriSon-
menf' and a fine Of forty hoHnds, and
nor to be discharged mil haid, The
o'her tFaYerser three months imprisoD-
meDt.
Z" his is subject" says the Dublin
evening Post, ito which the attention Of
lhe government must be called. 1t is quite
silly to suppose that the peace of the
country can be preserved, if such cir
cumstance shall pass without inVestiga-
ton"
Cadiz dates To Nav II saws. the Span-