The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-05-27
THE THREATENING LETTER.

The present is not the only famine
which has visited Ireland. There was
one in 1921 which the people years after
referred to as The Dear Summer, %
and such an appellation was richly de-
served. Potatoes, the stample food of the
poor, rose from one cent per stone -four
teen poundsl to twenty -eight cents that
year oat-meal was as high as twenty
cents per quart, and starvation was
threatened. L. Castlebar, County Mayo
(where great trouble is now,) tickets
were given out for oatmeal according
to the number of mouths in each family.
This was done by,a committee appointed
for that purpose; and l remember that
people claimed that the said committee
had the best of the supplies to them
selves, for song called The Commit
tee Meal" was sung in the street, of
which can only remember the follow
ing couplet ending one of the verses:
Many quather Of prime mutton an, vale (veaD
Was dan sain,d ey the bile 9 and eOm-miltee male
The allusion to the &c biIers" meant
the Fessels in which soup was made for
distribution, and distinctly remembe-
the constables beating away the poor
creatures who came with their cans to
esSOhAC. w hcA uIiRutcI Limer D6gan
TO dawn another streetballad made its
appearance, commencing:
"Come, all ye brave sons of ould Granna,
Take courage ane dent be in grief;
Our mercifui Father In heaven.
he soon WI aaord US relief. {"
Evictions, too, were frequent and the
little cabins which the poor people had
owned for years used 10 be leyelled with
the ground and the poor inmates turned
adrift to do the best they could, and
many who were old and feeble did not
survive it. This was usually done under
the protection of two or three com.
panies of soldiers, and years afterward,
when ! was q soldier myself, and saw
this work done by men of my own regi-
ment felt disgusted with government
which would put the country's defenders
to such dirty work. The landlords were;
of course hated foi this work, and yen-
geance was vowed against them, and
indeed it often proved to be no idle
threat. eA
The regiment belonged TO in 1843
had but Just returned from a service of
eleven years in British North America.
In 1874 was stationed in Oughterard,
County Galway, where was promoted
to be anon-commissioned officer on the
1st of March, 1874, and sent to Join the
headquarters in my native town,
Cdstlebar. The spring Assizes COM
menced about the middle of this month,
and one day Isstrolled into the Grim.
miual Court, wearing my cap (for an
English soldier never uncovers except
when taking the oath-not even in the
presence of royalty.
At this period Ireland was greatly
agitated. There were many evictions
BY landlords, and O'Connell and several
of his followers had Just been arrested
by the Government for sedition. One
young landlord, who had but shortly
before succe eded to the estate, on the
death of his father, made himself es
pecially obnoxious, and was hated &C
cordingly. When entered the court
room 1 found it crowded and was in
formed that q man was to be tried fol
sending threatening letter to his land
lord the young man in question: ar
offense which involved transportation
for several years. ..
The crier suddenly called "silence,' "
and the clerk of the crown calle6
Patrick Mulready."
A small farmer who owned only two o.
three acres appeared at the front O
the prisoners dock. He was dressed ii
the ordinary frieze coat and corduro,
breeches worn by laboring men, ant
seemed scarcely to realize his position
rs he smiled when he came forward ans
looked round at the crowd. The clerl
then proceeded to addsess the prisone
thus: prisoner at the bar: Yo,
have been indicted by the Grand Jur,
of the County of Mayo.for having on O
about the 10th day Of September, 1S4S
and the seventh year of the reign O
Her Most Gracious Majesty Queer
Victoria, sent threatening letter +
Charles Layella, Esq, of Balla, il
County of Mayo, in that part Of He
Majesty's dominions called Ireland
against the peace of Our Sovereign Lad
the Queen, her crown and Dignity
How say your Are you guilty or no
Not guilty. replied the prisoner.
How will you be tried p asked tn
clerk. 4
by God and my country" responde
the prisoner, who was defended by
barrister named Bourke. very eloquen
man, and an excellent lawyer, with
slight impediment in his speech.
A Jury was soon empanelIed an
sworn, Fand the counsel for the crow
rose and briefly stating the case. co,
cluding by reading the letter as 70
lows:
- AUeHAGowER, December 9, 1s43.
Sir The reputation left by your late !,
cellent father has been tarnishsd BY Won. isr
your tyranny to, and persecution Of your tsr