The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — 1825-07-05 (London, England)

IRELAND. THE COMMISSION. FRIDAY. JULY I. THE MCD ISLAND AFFAIR.  Our readers may recollect that we sometime since gate an ac. count of a monstrous outrage committed at Mud Island upon a party of I tdies and gentlemen, when returning about the lour of two o'clock in the morning, from a party at Phibsborough. Paul Spencer, Patrick Flinn. Julia Flinn, and John Muldoon, were put to the bar, and indicted for a riot and an assault upon Richard Glass, Andrew Ferguson, and others. Mrs. Catherine Kane was the principal witness examined. She stated that their party consisted of seven ladies and eight gentle. men, who were returning to town un the morng of the Nth May, front Phibsborsugh, where they had spent the evening, and that when passing through Mud.hland, one of their party, named D'Little, was in advance, and they heard him cry out for Doctor Gainey, and murder and robbery ; that when site and the rest of her company came up to the spot from whence the cry proceeded, they saw Doctor thafney and Mr. Fergusson holding a young man, one of the prisoners ; that that Mr. D'Little said he had attempted to rob him, anti the young led denied it ; upon which Mr. Fergusson said that if he weae innocent, he could make it appear in the morning, but that he should go along with them to the Police-office. In a moment Mr. Glass was knocked down by a blow of a cudgel, and upon Mr. Fergusson coining to his assistance, he was also knocked down ; could not say who gave the first blow to Mr. Glass, but the prisoner Flynn hit both Mr. F. and Mr. O. and when they were down he flourished his stick, and hunted three times; that all the rest of witness's party ran away. leaving Mr. Glass, 3lr. Fergu•son, Mrs. Glass, and herself; that Mr. Fergusson, apparently quite dead, and Mr. Glass having a little sign of life; witness requested of Flinn to spare him, when Flinn told her to take care of her own life, and then Flinn shook her, and Spencer and Muldoon shook Mrs. Glass. and struck Mr. Glass again; witness described the manner in which Spencer, with his shirt sleeves tucked up, and Muldoon were both enraged in striking the party. Mrs. Glass went for assistance to Mr. Glass, while witness watched by him for about fifteen minutes. Witness identilted Spencer, Muldoon, and Flinn; there were several of the prisoner's patty all armed with cudgels. Mr. Glass, Mrs. D'Little, and Dr. Gainey, were exmined. as was also Mrs. Glass, but none of them were able to identify the prisoners. Dr. Gainey thought he heard the prisoners called by their names, but would not swear positively that they were the same names, nor could he swear positively to the persourrof the prisoners. Thete was no provocation whatsoever given by Mr. Glass's party tot provoke the assault. Mr. Glass stated that he lay insensible fur many days from the wounds in his head, anti was attended by Surgeon Carnuchal. Mr. Ferguson was also badly wounded. !To a question from the ('oUST—Mrs. Kane replied. that it was a little after break of day, and that she never hesitated about the identity of the yrisoners whom she pointed out from about 15 other men. .  The prisoners examined several witnesses from the neighbourhood or Bsllybough Rridge and Mud Island to support an alibi. After Judge TORHENS charged the Jury, they retired, and in a few minutes returned a verdict of Ceilly against Spencer, AlulJoon, and John Flynn. Judge TostuE les pronounced the sentence of the Court, which was, that the prisoner; be each confined for twelve months in Richmond Brides/ill, and kept to hard labour ; and in order to convince the people in the prisoners' neighbourhood of the power of the laws' to protect the unoffending, and punish the criminal, the men should. not he discharged till they entered into securiries, themselves In forty pounds. anti two sureties is twenty each, to keep the peace fur sc‘cti years.  Y.IVERPOnr„ A _ITNDAY