The Princeton union., 1892-05-26
ABDUCTION CLUBS.
ADUUCIlUN CIUBS.
How Young Adventures of
the Last Century Got
Their Wives.
Abduction of Beautiful Girls
an Everyday Occur
renee in Ireland.

The Tragic Case of the Ken
nedy Sisters Their Alb
ductors Executed.
10 drink toast, proctor roast,
Or bailif, as the case is; r-.
Z To steal wife, or take life
At ten or fifteen PAGES.
| The old Irish song we'll describes the
daredevil spirit of the young adven-
turers who banded together as an Alb
lduction club, smote terror into the
heart of the timorous pater-familias in
Ithe British islands during the last
century. -.
For heiresses and beauties of gentle
birth was devised the ungallant motto
of the club: -
L If she will not then she must.''
And the daughter of many landed
proprietor, whose name had been
drawn by one of the members, found
herself coerced into marrying a man
with whom she was but slightly ac-
quainted, after he had forcibly alb
Quoted her with the assistance of the
club. ...
On May 4, 1880, 112 years ago, oc-
Cured two executions in Ireland, which
by virtue Of the prominence of the
two principals, did much at the time
toward the suppression of the organiza-
tion, and they also served to perpetuate
the memory thereof.
Is These men were not common rowdies
or cut-throats. While characters of
the Jack Sheppard type might have
been found in their retinue, the club
members themselves could usually
boast a gentle and not infrequently a
noble descent. At that time the cadets
Of ancient families who had lost their
estates through adherence to the
Stuart cause formed numerous and
dangerous class; they would not en-
gage in commerce, and were debarred
from public service. Their restless
energy found no legitimate safety
valve. AS a result some of them be-
came mere outlaws, while others
revenged their hereditary wrongs by
carrying off the daughters Of English
settlers who had supplanted them.
Loved by the peasantry, as much as the
settlers were detested, it was. easy
for one of these adventurous youths to
gather around him an army of frieze-
coated adherents, and in this way scions
of attainted houses succeeded in regain
ing their confsticated property.
AN EVERYDAY OCCURRENCE.
So successful were the early abduc-
tions that the forcible capture of
heiresses became an everyday occur
renee and no gentleman of means felt
himself safe who had an unmarried
daughter or ward beneath his roof
tree. Laws were passed to put down
the grievance, but without avail.
Finally by special act of parliament
forcible abduction was made a capital
offense, punishable with death. Even
this did not mitigate the outrage The
quick-witted Irishmen when carrying
off a girl placed her before instead of
behind him on horse or coach, thus
making it appear in the eyes of the law
that she had abducted him.
About the year 1865 the abduction
club was formally organized in the
ancient town of Cashel, among it's
original members being younger sons
of families famous in Irish history. A
solemn oath bound the members to as
sist each other in the carrying off of
such young women as had been fixed
upon by any of their colleagues. Ennis
saries and confederates in every dis
trict of the two southern provinces
communicated full particulars regard
ing the extent of the girls fortune, the
state and circumstances of her family,
with details of their domestic arrange
ments and movements. When a girl
was thus pointed out the members who
wished to marry her drew lots, and all
assisted in securing her for the fortu-
nate man.
He may never have known or spoken
to her, but he at once made it his OBJ
ject to meet her at a public ball or
reception, where he contrived to make
himself agreeable to her. Meanwhile
his associates and retainers without
had placed relays of horses at every
stage on the road to the nearest port.
During the hurry and bustle Of de-
! parture the Girl .Was separated from