Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-12-24


of the rioters that they had escaped from the
apartment, and were no longer in tie house.
For an hour and more the men seemed irreso-
lutte and used no violence; but at the end of
that the end of that time they rushed to the
bed, and drew the girls from their conceal
ment. They now displayed arms of all kinds,
swords and pistols, with which they were pro-
vided, and in spite of all the opposition OF all
the girls friends, whom they fiercely attacked
and threatened with instant death, they drag
| ged them into the street, where they were sur
rounded by about an hundred armed men,with
shirts covering their clothes, by way of dis
guise, the then common costume in which
originated the name of 'White-boys.'
uTwo horses were ready saddled. Cathe-
rine was FIRST to mount one, and placed before
Byrne, and Anne Misplaced upon the other be-
fore Strange; in this way, surrounded BY
desperate body of men, sufficient to intimidate
and overawe the country, they were carried of
| from their friends. To allay the terrors OF the
girls, it was prop osed to send for other females
who would be their companions, They re-
ceiyed the proposal with joy and they were
speedily Joined by some wome I, who proved,
however, to be sisters and near relatives OF the
abductors, and prepared and in readiness to
promote their criminal views. They rode all
night. surrounded by strong, armed guard OF
Whiteboys, to place called Kilmashane, iif-
teen Irish miles from Graigunamana. Daring
the journey they were repeatedly solicited to
consent to marry the men, and threatened that
if they did not, they should be carried 70
distant country, where they never should see
either mother or friends again. The women
who had Joined the party urged the same
thing, and threatened, if they persisted in the
refusal to abandon them, and leave them to
whatever treatment the men chose to give
them. In this place they obtained some re-
freshment, and continued for considerable
time, subject to the constant importantly OF the
party. AT length man was introduced, who
was reported to be priest, before whom Byrne
and Strange took a solemn oath that they
would harass them night and day by riding
through the country with them, till they should
be exhausted with fatigue and suffering but
if they consented then to be married by the
priest, then to be married by the priest, they
should be Immediately restoredto theirfriends'
At length, terrified and subdued, they bscame
massive. and a short form Of ceremony was
read, and an extorted assent was given.
"They then claimed the promise to be imme-
diately restored to their friends, but it was
evaded till night came ON. The girls refused to
retire to rest till solemnly assured by the te-
males that one should sleep each OF them
they, however, abandoned them.at midnight,
and the men took their places From this
house, which appeared to be waste place,
and belonging to no master, they agaia were
set on horseback, as before, and, accompanied
by their lawless patrol, they rode on to Boris,
where they passed the next night. The ex-
hausted girls entreated to be allowed to sleep
with the females, but this was refused.
"After various wanderings, by riding day
and night with whole cayalcade of armed
rufiians, they were brought to the house OF
another priest, who undertook to persuade
them to submit to their fate, and be reconciled
and obedient to their husbands. They still
persisted in their remonstrances against the
violence offered to them, when 1t was threat
ened to CARRY them to Castlecomer, and bury
them there forever in the coal-mnes; and
Strange, in paroxysm OF anger, struck Anne,
in the face with pewter pot. This brutal
violence sunk deep into her mind, and ranked
with an inextinguishablo resentment never to
be forgotten.
at will hardly be believed that for jfpe seeeks
they were paraded night and day, accompa-
MED by their lawless cavalcade, and resting at
miserable houses, through the counties Of
Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow, Kildare, and SO
on to the north of Dublin, where they stopped
| at Rush, a small fishing town, within few
miles of the metropolis. In this place they
were put on board vessel, and sailed to the
town of Wicklow; here, with perfect feeling
of indifference and security, some of the party
went on shore but while they were aosent,the
vessel was boarded by Mr.. Power, accompa-
MED by an armed party, who rescued the har-
| assed girls, and restored them to their friends.
In the meantime, Byrne and Strange made
their escape to Wales; but they were instantly
pursued, and were instantly pursued, and were
apprehended at Milford, on the 9Th of Julyand
lodged in the jail at Carnarvon. 1t was long
doubtful whether they would not claim the
girls as their wives; and a belief was enter
tanned that no prosecution would ensue.-
Catherine was said to be strongly attached to
Byrne, who had always treated her with gem
tleness and affection, except in the manner of
her abduction; but Anne's animosity to Strange
was irreconclable and the brutal indgnity Of
the blow was only to be effaced by his death.
Though so young-amere child-her energetic
resentment overcame the reluctance of her ell
der, but more yielding sister; her resolution
was confirmed by near relation of her own,
distinguished by the number of duels he had
fought--a Mr.. Hayes. II was by his upshaken
determination that the men were brought to
trial. The joint depositions of the girls were
taken before the Lord Chief Justice Annaly,
| and Byrne and Strange were tried at the Kill
kenny Lent assizes, on the Gath of March, 1850.
Letters were produced from the young Indies,
containing the most tender expressions of af-
fection, and inviting their respective lovers to
carry them off, in the. way usual in the coun-
try to which they were ready and willing to
| consent. These letters, however, were clearly
proved to be forgeries by the sister of Byrnc,
who was heard to boast she could perfectly
copy Miss Anne Kennedy's handwriting
| otbers were read, really written by the girls,