Horrible Fanaticism.
The Times, 1824-07-20T00:00:00

lI 'rom the Wexford Jfereld.] For several days it haA been intimated, by written notices dci spatched roupd the country, that a miracle was to have been wrought, on Friday last, by the Rev. John Carroll, Roman Catho- le curate of Ballyinore. On thatday he visited a man of the name of fRenrv Neale, of Killinick, who was lving dangerously ill of apo. plexy. Immediately after his arrival, he said the man was trou- bled with devils: he jumped on him several times, and cried out to the people present to keep him in prayer, in order to dispossecs the sick man of the evil spirits. Such was the effect of his opera- tions upon ono of the by-stitndeis, named Peggy Danby, that she fell to the ground ini hysternes; upon - hich Mr. Carroll jumped out of bed oif Neale's body, and seized the woman in a violent manner, alleging that she was full of devils, at tlhe samne time caliing on Jesus to assist him in expelling therm. He trampled on the untbrtunate woman, broke several of hier ribs, and left her for dead, and then observed that he would go and bury the devils which hc had secured. The blood was purgling in the wamnan's throat, and some of the superstitious wretcnes who were looking on exclaimed that they "saw the devils come out of her mouth i" rhepriest proccedX to the bridge of Assaily, about four hundred yards stant fro the scene of his operations, and on his return said, " he had buried the reptiles of hel !" He then went to the house of Robert Moran, of the same place, aind struck his wife so repeatedly and violently, that wben he left her she was scarcely able to speak and her head was swelled to a shecking de- gree. The next house visited was that of Thomas Sinnot, nailer, also of Killcink, (accompanied aU this time by at least 60 persons, some say by upwatds of 20D, but this is an exaggeration.) The devil-killer asked the servant for her mistress, who told him that she was not at homne, but that she would go for her; he desired her to do so. In a few minutes Mrs. Moran appeared. He asked her for .some refreshment, which she procured for him. At this tirnea child (a fine little girl between three and four years of age) then in bed in the room in which he was, began to cry ; he consulted his Breriary, and ihmcdiately affirmed that there was a devil in the child. Pur- suing the same coursc which he did with Neale, he jumped into the bed, and on the body of the infant! The father of the little innocent entered at the time.e-the child piteously cried out, Oh save me ! save me !' which he wvas proceeding to do, but siome of the nmiserable fanatics present actually held him back ! ! ! It may be asked who was holding the niotheri of tlhechild ? No one-she was as frce as anv of the spectators, and like themn, had a full convictioni that her. csild was, as the Priest had stated " posscssed," and rhat he vwas performing a miracle to drive out aie evil spirit!!! Nay, the infatuated mother was not o3nly without restraint as to ary relief she miglht have been inclined to have afforded her infant, bat actually assisted the Priest in the performance of his horrible work ! ! ! He ordeted her to get a tub bf water and some salt; these she instantly procured. 'he innocent little sufferer lay bleeding and insensible in bed; he poured the eon. tents of tle tub upon her; and as *he water miingled with the streatms of life, he cried out with enthusiasm to those around him, " Behold a miracle! I have turned the water into blood ! ! !" He then turned thle tub over upon his victim-the edge of it coming upon the child's neck, nuercifully con)pleted the tragedy, by putting an cnd to its sufferlngs ! Having desired the parents of the child not to allow anv onc into the room, nor to zouch the child till his return, lie departed to Wexford. 1iis directions were religiou8ly obeyed, and the besotted parents anxiously awaited his arrival. Next day'(Saturday) the Priest's sister called at Sinnot's, and told them to be contented, that their child would be quite well on her brother's return 1 ! Dr. Devereux, wsho attended Air. Carruil occasionally for the last three years,visited him a few hours previously to the unfortlnateoc- currence in questioti, and considered him insane. The next evening lie found him ii a high state of insanity. About two hours after Dr. Devereux saw him, he was vigited by Dr. Renwick, asid both concurred in opinion as to the unsettled state of his mind. Intdeed, it would be a waste of words to say any thing upon a subject so self.evident. No individual who peruses the above afflicting statement, can fbr a moment entertain a doubt that the un. fortunate lDlr. Ce-roll acted throughout under the iniLuentc of irea. nity. Sarprise, of course, vani;shes as respects his conduct; but how shall we designate that ot the crowd of spectators who surrounded hIin, sone of whom lent their aid to the fuirtherance of his designs, and all of whont, to the last moment, full of that reverential avre with whicit the Roman Catholic peasant looks upon a clergyman of hiscoinmunion, placed inplicit faith in the propriety and eMcacy of the wild and dreadful proceedings of the unhappy maniac. Whlo would have thought that such fanaticism existed in any part of this kingdom ? An inquest was held on the body of the unfortunate innocent, when the above horrible particulars were fully proved byr the fAther of the child, and other witnesses, in consequence of which the Jury came to the following verdict:- " Vile agree that the child, Catherine Sinnot, deceased, came by her death m consequence of the violence she reecived from the Rev. - John Carroll, as adluced by the evidence. Signed for self and fel- low jurors, " RICIxAltD SYz.VESTER, Foreuan. " It was generally reported that one of the poor women who was badly treated by him bas since died. Tne Ala strates have, in pursuance qf the verdict of tbejury, cominitted te Rev. lir. Carroll to gaol. At the conclusion of the inquest the Rev. Mr. Hughes addressed the people with some forci- ble observations on the occasion, which seeniied to make, as they tvere well calculated to do, a due imDression upon their winds. The Rev. Dlr. Hughes was one of the hIa4istrates wbo presided. HORRIBLE F.lNATIlCISm.