Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-01-19
TOLL BRIDGE GOES
Last Structure Of Is Class in Ireland
Bought by Waterford.
OVER HUNDRED YEARS OLD
It Was Built by Boston Contractor in
1898.
FAMOUS SwEDLER ARRESTED
Bogus G overnment Officer Seized
Hundreds Of Guns in Ireland.
NAY ESCAPE PUNISHMENT
Any of His Victims who Testify
Against Him VIII Convict Them
selves of Having Arms
Illegally.
1t Was Built by Boston Contractor in
1898.
FAMOUS SwNDLER ARRESTED
Y ESCAPE PUNISHMENT

DUBLIN. Jan. ls-(special The news
that there was toll bridge IN ireland Up
to the first day OF the year 1905. viii come
as a surprise 70 most Americans. but II Is
q fact that the last toll bridge in the
countiy vas only formally declared free
highway on that day.
More surprising stiil is the fact that the
bridge formed the principal approach 10
80 important a city az Waterford and was
allowed for al these years to stand az a
tax on its trade and a ve1ation to AL who
rad 70 como and 60. Every foot passsnger
had 20 pay a toll OF ] cent and every
wheeled vehicle cents, the proceeds going
to the representatives OF a company formed
20 build the bridge in ITs8 The bridge cost
siab.000 20 build and 81 may interest Ameri-
cars 20 know that II was bunt by Boston
man. Mr.. Lemuel Cox. who was also the
engineer Of the famous bridge over the
Foyle Al Londonderry. It has served its
purpose well for more than q hundred
years and now 81 has been bought from the
company BY the corporation Of Wate-ford
for sf5a0Oo and ~flI soon be replaced BY a
modern structure
An Irish swindIer.
The famous swindler Of Koepenick has q
rival in County Donegal. He Is Patrick
Boyle OF Lifrord and before he was cap
lAfEn an0 luAHtu aM 2EIIN ldA 70 avail
hts trial he succeeded in sWindling more
than a score Of Donegal farmers. The
idea seemed 20 have occurred TO him when
he heard a farmer remark AZ the strahans
fair that he would like 10 pick I'D a cheap
gun to shoot the crows which were becom-
ing tao numerous and aggressive on his
farm Boyle Immediately Informed the
man that he had a gun which he would sell
for S2.5a The farmer made appointment
TO see the gun next day. and that night
Boyle called at the house of Andrew
Doherty OF Inehenagh. Il am govern
ment arms Inspector he said. and hear
you have gun in the house. You must
give 81 up.
Never questioning his visitors authority
puherty gave il up and the next day Boyle
sold g TO the farmer for $3.50 The ease
with which he carried out the impersona-
tion encouraged him and he devoted his
time to his new duties as q government
arms inspector and seized half the guns
~ the district before his operations came
to the ears Of the police The amusing
feature is that the police are finding it
very difficult to induce any one 20 give
evidence AGAINST him for by doing 80 they
viii ronysct themselves Of the Illegal pos
sessirn " firearms.
Trade vvtth Franes.
Tie Frcrch customs authorities have al
last rrc5ruizcd ireland as a separate entity
from Frsland by agreeing TO publish re-
tur1s or 'hc direct trade between ireland
nnd Tu1nee. instead of as IN the past lump.
iuE tho 'rish trade with that Of Great
Tr'tsir. TIE first returns. those for 1906,
which 'aye just been issued. show that in
that yesT Ireland exported 70 France goods
.a tlle value of tl9o0eo while II imported
froni France goods worth S7760oe ireland
sent &C France about SEo.Os worth Of oats.
sl1e00 worth OF bacon, hams. etc. and
shouf Sln0oa9 worth OF linens and yarns.
No account is taken in these statistics.
oG course. Of the goods which were shipped
through England. these articles had
been ''anEiicised'- for French customs pur-
poses, but IL is stated that the French au-
thortties are prepared % recognize the
Irish trademark sufficient proof OF the
origin Of goods passing through their
custom houses.
An instance Of the superstition which
stil prevails in many parts OF Ireland has
Just been reported. A man named Flood
had been drinking Ar a neighbor's house
near Csvan and on his way home he ap-
parsntiy tried 10 climb a high hedge. Ths
rnuffler which he wore became caught IN
one Of the bushes and he was suspended
by hts neck and harged. Although several
parsons arrived before he was dead none
- them dared 20 release hira, thinking he
WAS suicide. and mindful OF the super
siition that u Is uniueky 70 touch person
who has taken his 0En life. They watched
the man slowly strangilng 70 death and
no one had the courage 20 cut him down
uutl policeman arrived from the NEAREST
station, which was three niles away.
This has been a disastrous yssr for the
fponerai herring fishers and hundreds ot
families which depend on .l.e fishing for
thelr livelihood win b. starving this winter
unless some measures are taken BY the
government for their relief Although the
hays an along the coast were literally teem-
Ing with fish the westhsr was 50 bad for
ihc last six weeks % the season that the
brsts dared not put cut from the shore
and the fishermen Eere forced 20 allow
their harvest 60 90 unrsaped The value of
ilte catch last year Vas only z16.Oo0, com
rared with ssooao the previous year. which
i about an average catch In addition 70
tiis many % the fishermen who tried in
theiT desperation 10 50 out in spite Of the
weaihei had their boats and nets damaged
or destroYeh and they are now wfthou,
useans to replEce them or TO repair the
caulaEe
Esery Anlerican is familiar with the ez-
rression .'to pay on the nail but feW
kno2 the origin of the expression. "To
ray the reckoninE on the nalI'' Is a quota
ton from the famous old song Garry
owen the air 81 which is used a. quick
step by every army IN the world. and the
4 ariEiral nail 20 which n referred has
fust been added TO the local historical
' relics IN the new Carnegie library and
museum a Limerick. In olden times IN
Limerick traders met IN the town hall
which was used an exchange. and cssh
transactions were carried cut on q Etons
pillar which stood at the foot Of tho stair
way. The TOP Of this pillar was covered
by q brass plate Wifh a large nail In ths
center and the money IN AL such trans
artscns vas plaaked down 90 the nail