The Sun. — 1832-08-01 (London, England)

DEVIL'S BIT.  THE POLICE, THE PRIESTS, AND THE PEOPLE. (From the Tipperary Free Press.) _  Sunday, the 22d inst., having been fixed for the Anti-Tithe meeting at the Devil's Bit, the people began to assemble at an early hour. Every road leading to the mountain was thronged with vast multitudes, moving on quietly to the place of meeting. The police and military took possession of that particular spat which is called the Rock. About 12 o'clock, the hill for three or four miles round was literally covered with the vast multitudes congregated to witness the day's proceedings; at least 50,000 people must have been assembled. A communication arrived from the gentlemen at Templemore intimating that for certain reasons, known only to themselves, the meeting was adjourned: this was signed by the very persons who got up the requisition for calling the meeting. An occurrence took place upon the summit of the mountain which will exhibit the feelings and dispositions of the police in a most conspicuous form.—A chief constable, named, Malone, stationed at Newport, was placed with about 30 men on a remote part of the hill; the people, moving in great bodies from one position to another, came close to his station, and he, thinking this an intrusion upon a spot which he held sacred, began, without even remonstrating, to charge them at the point of the bayonet. Fortunately murder was prevented by the intetference of a Catholic Priest from Nenagh, who prevailed upon the people to return beyond the jurisdiction of this sanguinary peeler. The rest of the police and military showed the utmost propriety and forbearance. Towards two o'clock the assembled multitudes began to separate; their disappointment was visible at the meeting having been adjourned. The small town of Toomevara is situated between Nenagh and the Devil's Bit ; here most of the people who came from Lower Ormond stopped to take refreshment. Malone, with a large body of police, remained also there, and the public will perceive from the following simple statement of facts, whether this man was bent upon shedding human blood :—Five Clergymen on their way home from the place of meeting, and passing through Toomqvara, remarked the public houses thronged ; they spoke to the people, recommending them to go home immediately, least perchance they might get drunk, and give their enemies a pretext for assaulting them. This advice was willingly complied with—they left off drinking, and followed the clergymen through the streets. After having quietly passed the police, and at a distance perhaps of 50 or 60 yards, one of the gentlemen began to address a few words to the people, thanking them for their peaceable conduct during the day. During this short address the detachment of the 92d Highlanders, stationed in Nenagh, passed. The police were immediately after them, and though the same passage was open, they were not satisfied to proceed, but immediately, and without provocation, as can be attested by thousands, commenced charging the people at the point of the bayonet I ! I So extraordinary a proof of the people's forbearance is not, perhaps, on record, as that manifested on this occasion; for though one man was mortally wounded, and many mangled in a most horrible manner—though the five clergymen who were present had nearly fallen victims to the rage of those blood-thirsty men, yet the people offered no resistance ! they were detearnined to be tranquil however great the provocation. I myself witnessed one or two most daring attempts made on the life of the Rev. Mr. Power, of Nenagh, by a fellow named Roberts, a sergeant of police at Toomevara; he pursued him across the street with fixed bayonet, and would have thrust it through his body had he not been arrested by a young man who followed close after him. The Rev. Mr. Dunn was also pursued by three other ruffians, and only saved his life by throwing himself into the Rev. Mr. Masher's garden. The particulars of this atrocious outrage have been transmitted to the Lord Lieutenant.