The Sun. — 1846-11-13 (London, England)

POLICE  AND WHITEBOYS.  Between eight and nine o'clock on Wednesday night an armed party of 12 men, with their faces blackened, attacked the dwelling of John Piper, at Scart, within two miles of Rathkeale, in search of arms, when five of them entered, and succeeded in carrying off a gun. From this they proceeded to the residence of Mr. James Condon, adjoining the same townland, where they demanded admittance at the back door, but were refused, that gentleman informing them from one of the windows that he had no firearms, at the same time adding, that if they did not believe his word to go to the front door, and he would allow them to satisfy themselves. They, however, declined the invitation, and retired from before the house, having first cautioned Mr. Condon against demanding rents from his tenantry, under pain of death. They did not go far when they were observed by a small party of police then on patrol, consisting of four men, viz., constable Alfred, sub-constables Kairns, Sheahan, and Laurenson, who followed then across the fields, calling on them in the usual way to stand and surrender. The gang peremptorily refused, telling the police to go back, and at the same time turning round they discharged five shots at the constabulary; the constable returned the fire, and one of the gang fell, apparently wounded, but being raised by his associates, was carried over a ditch into an adjoining field. The other three policemen then loaded, and prepared to pursue the fugitives, who in the interval gained some ground, and, as they retreated, turned round occasionally, firing at their pursuers, fortunately without effect. After a good run the police closed with them as they were crossing a high wall, and again fired, when a second man was observed to fall from the top, manifestly wounded, as the stones were besmeared with blood, which was also discernible along the grass. It being a moonlight night, the police did not lose sight of the party, whom they chased into a haggard where several stacks of corn were piled, behind which the Whiteboys took refuge ; but the police, nothing daunted, intercepted two of the Whiteboys, with whom they had a desperate combat, when the rest of the fellows fled in :he confusion, and the police eventually overcame the two, who were made prisoners after much difficulty and handcuffed. Upon search, both were found armed with guns; and one of them bad a very fine military sword I attached to his girdle, which has since been identified by Mr. George Massy, of Creaves, as his property, and which was taken from that gentleman's residence about a month since.  The Rockites were brought into Rathkeale Bridewell the same night, without being allowed to remove the disguise from their features. One of them received a bayonet wound in the breast during the struggle with the police, but the other sustained little injury. The names of the parties are—John Sheehy, a blacksmith, om Askeaton, and James O'Donnell, a farmer's son. Next morning the police searched the neighbourhood of the scene of action, and found two guns, which the rest of the party left behind in their precipitate retreat. While in the bridewell on Thursday night, one of the prisoners attempted to commit suicide, by cutting his throat with a piece of window glass.—Limerick Chronicle.