The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-04

(whose sisters abduction has been allud-
ed to-, Sir Charles Cuffe and Col Hell
sham. They were In the act of stepping
into a coach when four gentlemen with
wizards over their faces attacked them
COL Helsham and Mr.. Lougnan instantly
drew their swords but the first-named
gentleman was struck down with shilla-
Ian, while Mr.. Loungnan fell pierced
through the shoulder with a rapier. Sir
Charles Cutfe attempted to seize the girls.
Put the mob swarmed down upon him, and
he was finally stunned by a blow from the
butt end OF pistol. Then the Kennedys
We're carried rapidly to the other end OF
the Parade Ga fashionable street,, where
two coaches, each with four horses and
Positions were In waiting. Crack went
the whips round went the Wheels" ana
away through the dusk of a summer even
ing went the unfortunate heiresses, one in
each coach, and guarded as carefully as
though they were desperadoes.
Inc hrst stop was made at Knocnadoge,
the shooting lodge Of a Mr.. b, Strange's
cousin, in the Castlecomer hills Here the
young ladies' were allowed to alght. Two
peasant girls In the pay of the abduction
clubs were assigned to them as maids and
during the night their own half-brother
(who' curiously, was a member of the club
and bound by Its oaths), introduced Byrne
and Strange and Informed his sisters that
they must marry those daring swells.
Katherine Kennedy was of a gentle, tim
orous nature, and soon consented TO wed
Byrne-whom, indeed, she seemed TO like
very much. But Anne Kennedy held out
resolutely. and only the threat OF being
Imprisoned In the darksome depths OF one
of the neighboring coal mines caused her
to give way. Eventually a clergyman, real
or mock, made his appearance, and the
weeping girls were forced at the pistol
point into matrimony Then the madcap
WI rxgtfh
across the hills. Toward morning the
coast of Wexford was reached and the
entire party embarked on a fishing smack
with the intention Of making for France.
But In the meantime a courier had
reached Dublin and the lord lieutenant
was moving heaven and earth TO capture
the abductors. A fleet sl0op OF war put
out OF Dublin bay and sped down the
Irish sea. An unfortunate delay on the
part of the abductors' skipper gave the
pursuing vessel Its opportunity and in
midchannel the fishing smack was over
hauled. Byrne, Strange and their servants
were all captured, heavily ironed and taxi
en- to Waterford, where they were trans
ferred to Kilkenny jail.
Katherine Kennedy positively refused to
give evidence against Byrne, but the
other sister, whose affections Strange had
not succeeded in gaining, went on the wit
ness stand and swore her husbands life
AWAY DUN the young men were round
guilty and sentenced to death-the forced
marriages being at the same time declar-
ed null and void
Then began an earnest struggle to save
Byrne and Strange. The machinery and
influence OF the abduction associations
were set In motion. Every available
string was pulled. Petitions for clemenov
poured In upon the lord Lieutenant from
every quarter, the Prince of Wales aft
erward George IV) being one of the m
tercessors. Among the notable people who
prayed for pardon or at least commuta-
ton OF sentence we're many famous sol
dlers and statesmen in Ireland England
France, Spain, Austria and even Russia
Through the gallant soldiers of the Irish
brigade Byrne and Strange had distin-
guished relatives In nearly every country
OF Europe, and tremendous indeed was
the influence brought to bear upon the
Vceroy. But the government proved ada
mantine In It's firmness. II was felt that
an example must be made, or that the
abduction clubs and their evil deeds could
never be suppressed. Accordingly. the
lord lieutenant refusing to intervene. the
death sentence was pronounced on Byrne
and Strange
On account Of their old families and per-
sonal qualities the sentenced men were
very popular, and no less than three at
tempts were made TO wreck the fail and
carry them off. In fact, Il took an entire
infantry regiment all It's time TO guard the
prisoners.
At last the fatal day arrived, and in the
presence OF an immense multitude the two
abductors were executed. They went 10
the scaffold very bravely; the execution
carts being simply bowers of roses con-
tributed by kinsfolk and admirers. TO the
last "a reprieve was hoped for, Katharine
Kennedy having made a journey TO Dub
lin to obtain one, but all hopes were dis
appointed, and the execution took place.
Byrne and Strange dying amid the fierce
groans of the multitude.
Very bitter was the feeling against the
Kennedy girls In Ireland. They were. In
fact, forced TO leave their home and live
IN exile. Both married again, and the fact
that these marriages were unhappy was
set down by the peasantry as "a Judgment
for the blood of Byrne and STRANGE
But the execution was justified In lis re-
suits. From that day forth the abduction
clubs ceased to exist; and a pretty heir
ess could venture out Of her own doors.
without fearing TO be carried or and mar
ried against her will.
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