The Express. — 1846-11-10 (London, England)

STATE OF THE COUNTRY. CONFLICT BETWEEN TEE POLICE AND Wormier.— Between eight and nine o'clock on Wednesday night, an armed party of 12 men, with their faces blackened, attached the dwelling of John Piper, at Scan, 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 James Condon Esq., 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 bad no fire-arms, at the same time adding, 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 police party then on patrol, consisting of lour men, viz.:—Constable Alfred, Sub-constables Kairns, Sheehan, and Laorenaon, who followed them across the fields, calling on them in the reseal way to staud and surrender. The gang peremptorily refund, telling the police to go beet, and at the same time turning round, they discharged five shots at the constabulary, the constables returned the fire, and one of the gang fell, appae rently 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 fugitiees, 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 themes they were crossing a high wall, and the police 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 eight 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, while the rest of the fellows tied in the confusion, and the police eventually overcame the two, who were made prisoners after much difficu.ty, and handcuffed. Upon search, both were found armed with guns, and one of them had a wary. Sue military sword attached to his girdle, and 'Which has since been identified by George Massy, Esq. of Creaves, as his property, and which was taken frem 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, from Askeaton, and James O'Donnell, a farmer's ma. Next morning the police searched convenient to 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. The brave conduct of the constable and his party, engaged in the above capture, deservesto be rewarded, sad we have no doubt of Colonel M'Gregor's substantial approbation of their exertions.