Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-12-24
VOL. I.-NO. "a.


connected with all the gentry of the coun-
try-their actual marriage with tie girls, and
the frequency of the act of abduction, that
caused such a marriage to be considered a
thing divested of all criminality, created a
strong feeling in their favor. Tho ntercession
of powerful friends, including amongst others
the minister from the court of Vienna, was
earnestley urged in their behalf But Scott,
afterwards Lord Clonmel was then Attorney
General, and conducted the prosecution. He
openly declared in court, that if this abduction
was suffered to pass with impunity, there
would be no safety for any girl and no protec-
tion for the domestic peace and happiness of
any family; and he called upon the govern
ment TO carry out the sentence. His remon-
STRANGE was attended to, and the unfortunate
gentlemen were hanged, to the great astonish-
ment of their numerous friends and admirers.
So strong and general was the excitement
was the excitement among the peasantry, that
a rescue was greatly feared, and an extraordi-
nary large force of horse and foot was ordered
to attend their execution; and such was the
deep sympathy for their fate, that all the shops
were shut up, and all business suspended in
Kilkenny, and the neghboring towns. 81.
HThe subsequent fate of the girls was mel
ancholy Whenever they appeared in the
l towns of Kilkenny, Waterford, or the vicinity,
| they were assailed by Kissing and hooting of
\ the mob, who followed them with execraton
| through the streets. They both had pension
from government, settled on them as remu-
neration for their sufferings and their convic-
tion of felons. This the common people con-
1 sidered as the price of blood, and could not
I conceal their adherence whenever they were
| seen. They were, however, respectfully mar
ried, The eldest, Catherine married gem
| tleman named Sullivan; but even he could not
\ escape the superstitios eredulity of the coun-
| try. He was worthy, but weak man, and
fancied himself haunted by the spirit of Byrne,
| frequently shouting out at night when waking
\ from a frightful dream, and declaring that he
stood before him He always kept light
burning in his room, as a protection against
| this apparition. His handsome wife fell in
| flesh, and preserved but little of that comeli-
ness which attracted her lover; and she sought,
| it was said, the indulgence to drown rehectioni !
The fate of Anne was more severe. She full
| filled the promise of her YOUTH and became
a dignifed and magnificent beauty, She was
married to man named Kelly. Her married
state was miserable and she died an object Of
great ommiseraton-sunk, il was said, in
want and degradation. The common people
4 lantn ha,E sat- ;,,du n1 uad
to execrato her whilst living, and her memory
when dead The very act of man hazarding
his life to carry her off, was deemed noble
act her prosecution base return, and her
msfortunes nothing but the vengeance of Hea-
| ven ysibly visited upon her"
Another awful catastrophe of this kind oc-
CURED in different part of Ireland, about the
same period, which is perhaps one of the most
interesting and melancholy on record. John
| McNaghtan, native of Derry, graduate of
| Trinity College, Dublin, after series of ex-
travagances and the loss of his wife, paid court
to II Miss Knox, who had a large fortune, indie
pendent of her father; and as she was too
young to marry, he obtained n promise from
her to become his bride in two years. Her
father was opposed to it, and he was inter-
dicted the house.
"one day the lovers found themselves alone,
with no companion but little boy, when Nc
Naghtan took from his pocket a prayer-book,
and read himself the marriage ceremony, pre-
vailing on Miss Knox to answer the responses,
which she did, adding to each, Provided my
father consents OF this ceremony McNagh-
tan Immediately ayailed himself; and when
he next met her at the house of friend,
openly claimed her as his wife. Again he
was forbidden the house by the indignant fa-
ther. He then published an advertisement in
| all the newspapers, declaring the young lady
was married to him. By process, however,
| in the spiritual court, the pretended marriage
was entirely set aside.
"To detach his unfortunate connection, Mr..
| Knox resolved to leave the country, and intro
duce her to the society of the metropolis; and
| in the beginning of November, l76l, prepared
to set out for Dublin. McNaghtan and party
of his friends having information of his inten-
ton, repaired to cabin little distance from
the road with sackful of firearms. From
hence one of the party was despatched to the
house of an old woman who lived by the way
side, under the pretence of buying some yarn,
to wait for the coming up of Mr.. Knox's car
ri,ge. When it did arrive, the woman pointed
II Jnt named the travellers it contained and
| described the position in which they sat. They
were Mr.. Knox, his wife, his daughter, and a
maid-seryant. It was attended by but one
servant, and the smith before mentioned. The
scout Immediately ran before, and communica-
ted to McNaghtan the information he had re-
received. The carriage was instantly surround
ed by him and three other men. McNaghtan
and one of his accomplices fired at the smith,
whom they did not kill, but totally disabled.
The blinds of the carriage were now close
drawn, that the person might not be recog-
nized. McNaghtan rode up.sto it, and either
by accident or design, discharged heavily
loaded blunderbuss into it at random.
shrek was heard inside. The blind was let
down, and Mr.. Knox discharged his pistol at
the assassin At the same moment another
| was fred from behind stack of turf, by the
servant, who had concealed himself there
Both shots took effect in the body of McNagh-
tan. He was, however, held on his horse by
his associr ses, who rode off with him. The
carriage was then examined. Miss Knox was
found dead, weltering in her blood. On the
first alarm, she had thrown her arms about