The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1862-07-01 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

AGRARIAN MURDFREI IN IRELAND.  Perhaps crimes of violence and murder are as numerous with us as they are in Ireland; but in England we do not hear of murders committed in open day, and afterwards see the murderers escape through favour of the bystanders; or, if apprehended and acquitted by a condoling jury. going forth from the tribunal of justice, hailed hy the cheers of sympathy in their crime. Yet such is actually the case in the sister isle. If a gentleman has been "decreed" to death by a midnight conclave of half-savage, semi-civilised ruffians, because he has ejected some lazy improvident scamp who would not pay his rent, and the decree has been done, and the murderer is taken into custody, the officers who apprehend him, the witnesses who give evidence against him, the jury who assert his guilt by their verdict, and the judges who pronounce sentence of death against the ,g tor of law, discharge their several duties at the risk of their own lives. In the case of Beckham, one of the ruffians recently tried for the murder of Mr. Fitzgerald, neither the witnesses nor the jury hesitated to do their duty ; but in some other cases tried by different juries the opposite was evidently the result. Thomas Bonham WAS accused of firing at Colonel Knox. The judge regarded the evidence of identification as "clear, precise, and strong," and undoubtedly it was in some respects more positive than in Mr. Fitsgera.d's case; yet the man was acquitted, and his release made a matter of popular rejoicing because the "Government had been beaten." .Nor did the popular sympathy with 'Bonham rest here. On the following Sunday he had • grand ovation at Templemore, while at Thnrle Colonel Knox was greeted with groans, and a grand juror was hissed .ind pelted with mud. It is thus that the Irish people, while on the one hand they show their contempt of law andicatiee, op the other hand evince their admiration Of those who have been charged with the most serious crimes. The result of the trial of Halloran is a still more complete triumph to the lawlessness of the Green Isle. In this case it was not an attempt merely. the murder was actually committed. lialko an was accused of the murder, and as he stood in the clock the prisoner could not conceal his anxiety, for, although cireumstantial, the evidence came exceedingly dote to the fact, and the defence was positively weaker than in either of the preceding cases. But the contest for the acquittal or conviction lay in the management of the court, and this was apparent from the tactics display ed by the lawyers who conducted the defence. They challenged every one called into the jury box, who from known sentiment or opinion they believed opposed to the popular profeteion of murder. and the result was this prisoner's acquittal, also with loud manifestations of popular joy. Now, no one ought to find fault at the verdict of a jury, provided it were honestly given, but the worst part in the business is the revelation of the popular sympathy with crime which these trials have brought out It is a state of society which is a scandal to civilisation, and while things remain as they are,there is, we fear, but little hope for Ireland. But what is the cause of such a feeling existing 7 for cause there must be, seeing we have the effect. The question is certminly worthy of the gravest consideration, fur u less the cause be known it will be impossible to effect a one. The moral sense upon which respect for the law rests is obviously wanting in a largo portion of the Irish population; nor can we wonder at this when we recollect the teaching many of them receive from the Catholic priesthood, who are continually inveighing against the Government. Without doubt the great cut se of Ireland is popery.