The Shasta courier., 1868-11-14
COURIER.
NOTABLE IRISH AsSIZES.


The Clonmel assizes opened in the spring
of 1928, with the usual ceremonies. Till hall
century before, the Irish bar. when on CIR
cult, travelled on horseback. The crown
prosecutor, rejoicing in good jail-full, the
leading chiefs. their saddle bags brimming
with record briefs the gay and sanguine
juniors, reckless and light-hearted, came rid
ing into town the day before the assizes, in
as close order as regiment OF cavalry,
holsters in front of their saddles, oyercoats
strapped in tight rolls behind, mounted SER
wants following with saddle bagsful of black
gowns and law books, barefoOted suffers
tramping behind with stores of wine and
groceries. A mile or so from the town the
gentlemen of the grand jury came riding out
to vociferously welcome the new comers.-
But in 1928 the barrsters stole down in the
mail one by one, and the picturesqueness of
the old entry had disappeared.
1t was at these assizes, at which three hun.
dred and eighty persons were tried that one
of the murderers Of the Sheas was tried
This outrage was one of the most inhuman
.that ever took place in ireland, and is
still talked of in Tipperary with peculiar
horror. The crime dated back to the year
1921. In November of that year respect.
able farmer named Patrick Shea, who had
lately turned out of his farm an undertenant
named William German, came to live in the
house left vacant by the eviction. 1t was
situated in dark gloomy glen, at the foot of
the misty and bleak mountain of Slievena-
mawn, and, on clear day, it was just visible
from the high road through the narrow defile
of Glenpower.
On Saturday, the 18th day of November,
man of evil character, named William
Mater, came to a low shibbeen near the
mountain, kept by man and woman named
Kelly, Of infamous character. These people
sold spirits without license, and their hoase
was a well known resort of bad characters of
both sexes Maher. who was the paramour
of Kelly's wife, retired to recess in the
house probably that used for secret distill-
ing, and melting some lead ran it into mus
ket bullets. The woman, having heard the
- boys" were going to infiict summary justice
on the Sheas for being so harsh with German,
whom they lad driven out penniless, and
without cover or shelter. and, being sure that
Maher would be in the business, taxed him
with it, and having some good instincts left,
besought him not to take away life. Alaher
answered with equivoeation. The bullets
were scarcely finished before a newly married
servant of the Sheas, Catherine Mullaly, a
cousin of Mary Kelly, came in. Maher, who
knew Catherine began bantering her in the
Irish way. and the girl Joined heart and soul
in the repartees. Maher's aim was to discover
if the Sheas' house, which was well garrison
ed contained any store of firearms.
The girl, pleased with his attentions, grad
uallv disclosed to Maher the fact that the
Sheas had great many muskets and pistols,
/ - -. Iof,M NJ bo, al 1,
her, and babe her farewell as friend. Mary
Kelly, who knew the wretch better, the mo-
ment the door had closed on Catherine. i'm
p!ored Maher, whatever was done, not to
i,arm that poor girl. lie promised, and soon
after Quilted the house with the bullets leav-
ing Mary Kelly confident of the safety of
Catherine But, nevertheless, the next day
ber fears revived when she heard Maher and
some mysterious whispering men, who drop
ped into the shibbeen that day after mass
talking under breath. Heisf g
Mary knew that I" word would be as
much as her life was worth, SO she did not
speak of it even to her husband but on the
Monday night, when he was asleep, stole out
of bed, slipped on his coat, and made her
way cautiously and slowly under the loose
stone walls and hedges to the vicinity of Ma
hers house. She stopped, for she could hear
voices. At tlength the door opened, and she
hid herself behind some brambles as the
murderers came out. They passed her, arm
ed and in file; eight faces and eight voices
she recognized. One of the eight carried tN 0
long lighted sods of turf which be kept alive
by his breath. They did notisee her, and pass
ed on. Trembling and terror. stricken, but
still magnetcally drawn, she followed them
g., ho1. ioI- al 49, L
on the path to the Sheas' house. From where
she stood the farmhouse was visible As she
looked, fire leaped out of the roof, ran over
the thatch, and instantly rose into pyramid
of flame, for the wind was high that night /:
the whole glen grew crimson. The door was
barricaded by the murderers. Not one of
the Sheas escaped Shrieks and cries for
mercy rose from the seventeen burning
with laughter, whooped with Joy, and dis
charged guns and blunderbusses to celebrate
and announce their triumph Then came a
silence, aud after that, when the wind abated
for moment, Mary Kelly could hear the
deep grvans of the dying, and low means of
agony, as the fire spread fercer to complete
its horrible task. At every fresh groan the
monsters discharged their guns in fiendish
jubilee.
A friend of the Sheas, named Philip Hill.
who lived on the opposite side of the hill ad-
joining the house, heard the guns echoing in
Slievenamawn. and arousing his friends.
made across, if possible, to save the Sheas.-
These men arrived too late; nor did thew
dare to attack the murderers. who drew mn
at once to meet them. Philip Hill defei
them to come on. but they declined the chal-
lenge, and waited the attack of the inferior
number. All this while the groans from the
burning house were growing fainter and
fainter, till at last they entirely subsidized.
John Hill, who hadsa brother in the Sheas'
house, had accompanied Hill, and eager 70
discover the murderers, approached nearer
than the rest to. the FIRE, and by its light rec
ognzed William German. The murderers
returned by the same way as they came, and
were again observed by Mary Kelly from her
hiding place. The wretches as they passed
her were rejoicing over their success. and