Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-01-27
AlisrellanD.
REALITIES OF IRISH LIFE.
Sketches by a Land Agent.

bheNches Dy u LNhu ABoht
A book called the "Realities of Irish Life, "
ly W. Stenart Trench, land agent in Ireland
to the Marquis of Landsowne, Marquis of
Bath and Lord Digby, has just been pub
lished by Longman in London. 'From
youth to manhood, and from manhood to
verge of age, says Mr. Trench, "it has been
my lot to bo surrounded by kind Of poet
ic turbulence, and almost romantic vio-
lence, which Ibelieve could scarcely belong
to real life in any other country in the world.
Mr.. Trench has seen the Irish tenantry from
the point Of view of the agent Of Irish
landlords; has been among the scenes Of
violence which form so dark q chapter in
the social history of Ireland and takes us
" tn him behind the scenes. His tale haves
the additional attraction Of being literally
true.
Passing over the events of the authors
youth when "0'Connell's police, MS the
Llberator's ragged escort were called, had
nearly killed him for not taking off his hat
as the great man passed by, Mr.. Trench
brings Us 10 1910, the time when the Rib
bon Conspiracy was at its height His first
experience of an agrarian outrage occurred
in the May of that year
"On beautiful bright sunny day at noon
was riding with friend to the sessions of
Borrisokane. Iheard faint report at q
little distance in the fields as of q gun or
pistol, but took no notice Of it, when al
most Immediately afterwards man came
running up a lane to meet us saying:
"'Oh sir, Mr.. Hall has just been shot.
'ShotP cried |, pulling up my horse,
do you mean murderedY
"'0h yes, sir, replied the man, 'he is
lying there in the field.
" Is he deadT asked.
"'Stone dead /! was the mana reply; and
as he said so, / never shall forget the
strange mixture of horror and Of triumph
which pervaded nis countenance.
ave rode rapidly down the lane, and just
where it emerged upon little grass lawn,
was the body of Mr.. Hail. He was man
apparently about fifty years of age, and his
bald head lay uncovered on theg ground. He
was quite warm, but stone dead, lying in
the open field. Numbers OF people were
working all around, planting their potatoes;
but not trace Of the murderer could be
found"
Mr.. Trench wished at once to ride of in
pursuit of the murderer, but more ex-
perienced friend assured him that the man
was probably among those who were quiet.
ly looking on; and that aiterward proved to
be the fact. A villain had been hired by o
farmer on Mr.. Halls estate to kill him for
five pounds and young man was selected
to accompany him. The intended murder
er followed his victim as he walked in the
fields on that bright May morning, and on
two occasions as he approached him to fire,
Mr.. Hall turned round and thwarted him.
n haC 20 70 md
declared with an oath, that the affair was
unlucky, and he would not go on with it.
The young man swore ut him as q coward,
took the pistol from him, and coolly went
up TO Mr. Hall and shot him dead. He
then threw the pistol away, and stood
quietly with his hands in his pockets, min
gled with the crowd who gathered round
the body His companion afterwards turn
ed approver, and the youth was convicted
and hung: The following strange scene oc-
CARED on the trial;
After the witness had detailed how he
had himself undertaken TO be the murderer
and had twice stolen behind Mr.. Hall for
the purpose Of shooting him in the back,
and had only given up his design because
he fancied it was 'unlucky,' tho prisoners
counsel said:
Then it was not your conscience which
smote you?'
"'Not bit + replied the man.
And you stole up behind the poor old
gentleman to shoot him for money? said
the lawyer.
~ did
4 suppose you would do anything for
money
I would, replied the man, quito un-
appalled, and growing desperate.
"The lawyer continued still to excite
him:
You wonld shoot your father for mon
ey, supposeF
I would exclaimed the man, furious
ly,
"'Or your mother?
81 would.
Z" Or your sister2'
81 would
|" Or your brother 2 continued the coun-
sci.
"'Ay, or yourself either T cried the in
furiatod ruftan, almost leaping from his
chair. and turning round 80 suddenly with
In few feet Of his cross examiners head,
that his usually undaunted nerve seemed
almost appalled, by the ferocity OF the saw
age"
when the potato blight had passed, and
emigration had begun to change the whole
condition OF tho Irish agricultural classes,
Mr. Trench became agent to Lord Bath.
The rents were CSC, 900 in arrear, and he
began by Offering help W the insolvent to
emigrate, if they would quietly give up their
lind. But omong the tenants was Joseph
Mickey the leader Of the reousants on the
estate. He offered q bailiff ESQ TO arrest
Mickey; but the bailiff said, Thank your
honor; ESQ is very good, and not TO be
earned every day; but life is sweet" So
there was nothing TO do but 10 20 and see
him. Accordingly Mr.. Trench rode over 70
his place alone. Mickey, after parey ad.
mitted him 10 the house where he and two
others were distillipg poteen. After some
talk Mr.. Trench said, "And 30, Mickey,
you are the terror of the country, and nc
one dares take you r Mickey looked rest.
less, and replied, "No one has taken me.
he then went to coat which was hanging
on the wall, and showed 0 large brass pistol
protrudng from the pocket, and pulled IL
out and said, "Thats what frighten them
with" II had neither lock or barrel
Then they began TO talk about the five
years mt owing, and Mickey, took Mr.
Trench into room where were two chairs
and table. and o billhook hanging on the
wall Mickey slammed the door, and Mr..
Trench saw that IL could only be opened
with key. He kept himself between
Mickey and the billhook, which Mickey con-
teseed was his defender, and they sat down
with the table between him 70 discuss their
grieysnses. Presently MoKsy became ex-