Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1861-04-17
MESCELLANE GUS.
TIE HLSP.
BY LIEUT., COL. Il. Il, ADDISON.

Ireland, can be known the horror inspired by
a sprocass seryer,'-the abhorrence with
which these poor men are looked upon by ev-
cry PATHFINDER In this quiet and orderly
conntry, the mau placed in possession OF
vour property ty the foFmalities Of the law,
is not only considered as the mere tool CT
superior power, butts often, very often, we'll
treated. Nay, courtesy goes so for, that he
is frequently asked, during MS forced soJourn,
to Join in all the meals and other comforts
which the house affords. Not so in the sis
ter country. The unhappy man sent in TO
do this unpleasant duty, is not only Ill treat
ed and abused, but often becomes the victim
OK murdcrous Eerocity.
One Of the most remarkable Illustrations
Of this feeling occurred some thirty years ago,
in the county os Clare, when a gentleman of
high standing, good estate, aud old family,
was SO irritatcd, that On his house being ta-
ken possession Of be actually got ~ IN the
middle Of the night. and set it on fire, thus
pcriling the lives Of the two poor officials 10
charge. That which, however, made tie
case still worse, was the attempt on tie part
OF the iEcendiary to cast the blame On the
men IN possession from which charge, how
ever, they perfectly cleared themselves, and
Mr.. -Was fully committed fo- ssttin: fire
to his osra house, q sou.eTLE. strange occUr-
renee but several cases. Of thus destroying
the security OF creditors having lately occur
red, Sir Robert Peel deemed it n5ce essary TO
make Il a felony. sir was the first
party indicted under the new act, and would
have undoubtedly escaped, had he rot, (as
We have aa.8) cudaaToEed 20 destroy two in
n5cent meu, basilE his accusation on bis own
personal observation. This was thought 50
horrible that the law was allowed TO tzza lis
course. o-2 3IT. - vas hanged IL L.1ais,
as aa example 20 deter those Who would say
agaly aTca-s their own Irregularities on the
l-eiz Of tLlsc rl1 had never i1j1Eel them.
Tlis striking .-e5. la-scFer, seemed 90 have
little effect Oh liz blood el.r=.y nature o. tue
Trish peasaItry; Cor IN tho journal vas uCE
reading there wrs & dreadful account or :
murder committed. Or rather, o5sceTcgcl the
day be.0re) on tEo keepers, ns-E kilI-Hoc@.
The bodies Of tho unfortunate men were
found in a small river, 2ba-t . sa:lo fs9sa the
farm house they were supposed TO be II pcs
session Of and steps Ea6 been taken 20 make
it appear as If they had Peri-le4 l. accident,
but this b5lief was At once destroyed by their
skulls being found battered in, aud their e.
ces SO GisGgured Dy blows, that i vas task
oc great difficulty 20 recognize then.
The account given Dy tae farmers Ia-nl'y
uc;nler OF the circle agreed so consistently,
that their evidence was scarcely to lie doubt
e1. It appeared from their statement, that
two men had taken up their residence in an
adjoining IaTn. and tLat one OF the daaEh-
ters had carried them their frugal supper the
evening before. They then seemed |oi pEl-
med with v lisl.sy. aad might be Supposed TO
be IN possession @; sill iarger supplies Of this
Intoxicating beverage. Ine geueral belief %
the family was. therefore ths. the two poor
fellows having got Grulk, fell asleep, aad,
ca waking, walked -cUCss the fields, to basne
themselves, for the purpose Of washing away
their deIaUch, but, unfortunately, not bsl1s
quite sober, they had fallen ~ just wLeEe tae
stream Wa most RAPID and deep, and thus
fell victims to their iUtcnPerauce. The
wounds on shcir heads, they supposed, must
have been caused BIZ being dashed against
some rocks, past which they had been carried
By the stream.
The story seemed to the local authorities
to be somewhat Improbable, but, on strict iu-
vestiration, they found the footsteps of two
men clearly imprinted in several places be-
tween the door o. the barn and the river,
where they again appcard uPon the rar.dy
and slippery bank. Tae whole house Tas ex-
amiued over and over again /; but 10 weap Il,
no instrument Of death. or cause OF suspicion
could be discovered Forty-eight hours were
rruillessly employed by the local magistrates,
the chief constable, and the coroner, in seek
ing for some evidence; but all in vain. As
a last resource, they wrote to Fokes, IN Linz
erick.
OF all this-beyonI the paragraph ia the
news2aper-I heard nothing till the entrance
Of the chief constable, who arrived, bearin :
the invitation TO my intel!igen; relative to at
tend.
well, Nae, as they wish it, I'll 60; but
YOU may depend up6n ii, il is as the people
say. These fellows get drunk, aud slipped
into the river. II! order ny carriage direct
ly, aud you and my relative here can drive
over with me-
began to make excuses.
oh. don't Be getting out Of il. If you'll
come along re viii touch - ---, aud l..
show you the E1cst stud Of horses IL Ireland
Come, Gou'a be fsncyiDg ih@S there Is any
danger this time! I'm only going over 70
see my brother magistrates. By the be IA
/ Ike to Introduce you 10 some OF them -
/ There's no case of harm to any one here. i
there. aIac?' turning to the police oiiee'
| close By
None IN the world, Major. Sure, Il ther'
/ had been aur,liu:, Sc world have discoTsr
Ell it wi,hou, troubling you
You're right; bu. as thcy asE ne, vel
lust run over aud IL Ea.f al hour more, "
7ere en- ToHte.
[ confess [ vas not comfortable, Yoke
vas Fzr too joViai TO please me, aut he laugh
ei al the idea of this murder SO loudly, az
pooh-poohed it so strongly, that felt he va
not siucere.