The Worthington advance., 1880-10-28
JOHN PHILPOT CURRAN.
The First Case Tried That Gave Hin Fam.

The First Case Tried That Gave Hin Fame.
The following anecdotes of the famous
Irish orator and advocate, John PMlpot
Curran, is from O'Flanigan's "Munstcr
Circuit" Curran, at the time mentioned.
had been but . few years at the bar, and
had as yet only an ordinary local reputa-
ton:
During the Cork summer assizes of
1850, an action for assault and battery
was tried, which, from the position of the
plaintiff and defendant, excited great in
terest throughout the country. The
plaintiff was a Roman Catholic priest,
Rev. Mr.. Neale; the defendent, Lord
Doneraile.
It was the misfortune of this peer, to
have drawn peasant girl from the paths
OF virtue, and shortly after the brother of
this girl committed some crime calling
for ecclesiastical censure, which the Rev.
Mr.. Neale, by direction of his bishop,
carried into effect. The young object of
Lord Doneraile's illicit love applied
to his lordship for his interference
in her brothers behalf, and was
promised prompt redress. Accompanied
by kinsman, Capt. St. Ledger, who had
retired from the service, Lord Doneraile
sought the small cottage in which Father
Neale, the priest, resided. He was All
aged man in poor circumstances. The
penal laws were IN full force, and he
lived in seclusion. He was engaged in
his office of prayer when he heard aloud
voice calling him forth. He looked up
and saw Lord Done1ailc, mounted on
horseback, calling him. He rose from
his knees, and, book IN hand, bareheaded,
and feeble with age, the priest obeyed
his lordship's imperative summons.
"You have dared," cried his lordshlp,
Ito hurl the censures of your Papist
church against one Of my men. I, Lord
Doneralle, command you to remove it in
stantly."
The priest declared he would willingly
do so if the matter rested with him, but
1T did not. he was bound to obey his
bishop; the censure could not be re-
moved save by the bishops orders.
Losing command of his temper, the an
cry peer struck the defenceless old priest
repeatedly with his Lorsewhlp until the
blood flowed, and the priest retreated,
stunned and bleeding, into his humble
dwelling.
A courageous attorney ventured upon
the bold step of bringing an action for
assault on behalf of Father Neale against
St. Ledger, Baron Doneraile, and the
cause was in the list of records TO be tried
at the summer assizes for the county of
Cork, in 1880.
The bar, as usual, mustered strong at
Cork for the assizes, but such was the St.
Leger influence that no counsel was de-
sirous Of appearing for the plaintiff in
this action.
Strange enough that Curran. who was
native of Newmarket, and whose father
had been seneschal of the manner court
of Aldworth's family, should have volun-
teered to be the plaintiffs counsel. He
felt that the case was one demanding re-
dress and he determined the priest should
not be inops eonsizii, but should have tho
benefit of his advocacy. He portrayed
in scathing terms the outrageous con-
duct of the defendant; depicted the
character Of the humble priest, and
lashed with fierce invective the man who
stood tamely by and never in
terfered to save Father Neale from the
lash of his angry relative. He termed
Capt. st. Leger renegade soldier, a
drummed.out dragon, and turned this
captain into rldicule when he came to
be witness for the defendant.
"You are soldier, sir2'' said Curran.
"No; I am an oficer,'' replied st.
Leger.
'Isee," said Curran. "You are, then,
an officer, but no soldier.
The witnesses for the defence were
obliged, under Curran's powerful ques-
tions, to establish in full the plaintiffs
case; and under his vehement advocacy,
the jury decided according to the evi-
dence, between man and man, and found
verdict tor Father Neale, with thirty
guineas damages.
This verdict Davis calls "a conquest
over the powers of darkness; the first
spoils of emancipation"
In consequence of the way Curran
cast rdicule upon Capt. st. Lcger, that
officer demanded hostile meeting.
Curran went out, and when on the
ground St. Leger asked who should fire
first.
~ am here,' said Curran, " by your
invitation, so you must open the ball.
After an exchange OF shots, without
effect, the affair terminated. Capt. St.
Legcr died shortly after; and Curran said
it was of fright; he died from the report