March 1876 News – A Duel, a Ghost and the “Pretty Girls’ Fund”
The Courts
Manslaughter – Belfast Evening Telegraph 23rd March 1876
Edward M’Cullough was indicted on a charge of “feloniously killing and slaying Hugh M’Donnell” on the 21st July 1875. The prisoner pleaded not guilty.
A witness, Wm. McLaughlin, testified that he remembered the circumstances of that day, stating that he saw a car going through Gamble Street that evening. The prisoner, McCullough, was driving and knocked down and drove over a child of five or six. The prisoner halted briefly but then continued with his female passenger and dropped her off at the quay before being brought back to the scene by policemen.
A further witness, John McCabe, testified that he knew the boy knocked down as Hugh M’Donnell. McCabe confirmed that he saw the accident. The forefoot of McCullough’s horse struck the child, knocked it down, and then the car ran over it. Mr McCabe lifted the child, took him to a public-house, for immediate care before the child was taken to hospital.
McCabe’s testimony was immediately questioned by Mr Frazer for the defence:
“Where did you come from to give evidence here? Didn’t you come from the jail?”
McCabe confirmed this. The defence questioning continued:
“How often have you been in jail?“
“It’s more than I can tell.”
“Have you been thirty-five times convicted?”
“I suppose I have.”
“And you are now going back to put in a term of four months?”
(The witness lowered his head without answering)
Go back to the castle of indolence from whence you came.
On behalf of the defendant, Alexander Francis testified that he saw the incident adding that a number of horses were jumping about through the street and frightened the child into attempting to run across the street. He was hit by the car. The driver appeared “perfectly sober“. Another witness, John Kelly, supported this account.
Anne Kavanagh, the deceased’s mother, stated that she had left the child on the evening in question to search for a house. When she came back her son was in the Royal Hospital.
Dr. Coates reported that the child died in the hospital on 23rd July from internal injuries sustained in the accident.
For the defence, Mr Frazer highlighted that the only person specifically accusing the prisoner was John M’Cabe, who was “an unreliable sort of a fellow“.
After deliberation, the jury found the prisoner not guilty, and he was discharged.
Belfast Courts – Ulster Weekly News 25th March 1876
Serious Assault and Insubordination in the Workhouse
An invalid named John M’Donnell was put forward, accused of assaulting an inmate of the workhouse named Thomas Murray, on the previous day. Murray testified that he and the prisoner were friends in the workhouse but, on the previous day he saw the prisoner “ill-using a woman by dragging her about in a passage leading to one of the departments of the house called the “Old Men’s Day-room.” Me Murray objected to the prisoner’s actions and was immediately struck with a clenched hand on the mouth, knocking out one of his teeth.
Others corroborated this account.
The prisoners defence, in response, argued that he was only doing this because the woman was drunk and disorderly. This excuse was not accepted and the prisoner was sent to jail for a month.
“An Extraordinary Desire”
A young man, William Stewart, brought forward on a charge of being drunk and disorderly on the previous day. The offence was confirmed by witnesses.
The prisoner appealed to the Bench not to imprison him but rather impose a fine. He added that he was a Scotchman and promised that he would then return to Scotland immediately if their Worships discharged him.
Justice of the Peace, Mr. Hamilton, noted humorously…
“This is the most extraordinary thing I ever heard – a Scotchman wishing to return to his own country”.
There was laughter in the courthouse. The prisoner was then discharged and advised to return to Scotland as the earliest opportunity.
Challenging a Sentryman
A young man named Charles Rafferty was put forward by Sub-Constable Thomas Martin on a charge of being drunk and disorderly in North Queen Street on the previous day.
The constable gave evidence that the prisoner was gesticulating violently in the face of a sentryman at the entrance to the Military Barracks, and challenging him to a pugilistic encounter. Other witnesses confirmed this account.
The prisoner was sent to jail for a month.
A Lunatic at Large – Belfast Evening Telegraph 17th March 1876
Sub-Constable Gaynor brought forward Andrew M’Neight, charged with being disorderly on the Ormeau Road the previous day. The prisoner was carrying a stick and struck each door loudly as he proceeded down the street.
The constable stated that he believed the prisoner to be a lunatic as he had proclaimed himself to be “God Almighty Himself“. The prisoner denied the charge in a rambling response.
The Court ordered the prisoner to stand aside to undergo a medical examination.
Custody Court – Belfast News-Letter 13th March 1876
“Disorderly Conduct”
John Little, William Finlay, and Sarah Jane Dogherty were charged with fighting in Great Patrick Street. Witnesses stated that John Little and William Finlay were fighting in the street whereupon the female, Dogherty, interfered, and severely kicked Finlay.
The male prisoners, who were both severely cut, were each fined 10s and costs, or seven days’ in jail, and Sara Jane Dogherty was sent to jail for three months.
Correspondence
Sunday Service – Belfast Morning News 6th March 1876
The Belfast Morning News carried a letter from a Belfast visitor complaining about the lack of a house-to-house letter delivery service on Sundays. The current arrangement of a collection-only service at a post office from 9am-10am on Sundays was considered inadequate. The correspondent called for at least one morning delivery on Sunday mornings with postal delivery staff offered extra remuneration for this service.
“We all of us, have friends who are dear to us. Suppose an accident befell one of them, how are we to hear of it? If a death occurred, or a funeral is to take place, or some important family business is to be arranged, as far as the Belfast Sunday postal service is concerned we might remain in blissful ignorance.
It is not every person can, after the fatigue of a long journey by land or sea, go to the Post Office, or readily procure a messenger.”
An Occasional Visitor to Belfast
Classified Ads
Other News
A “Pretty Girls’ Fund” – Ulster Weekly News 11th March 1876
The Ulster Weekly News, 11th March 1876, reprinted a story originally carried in the New York illustrated press. This concerned a surprising initiative suggested by the New York Daily Graphic to celebrate the centennial of the American War of Independence.
The Daily Graphic editor offered to assist the centennial celebrations by opening a “Pretty girls’ fund.” The proposition was that each community should select a representative beauty, and forward her photograph, with a cheque for a hundred dollars or more, to the newspaper. The picture will then be drawn, engraved, and printed in the Daily Graphic, and the money forwarded to the treasurer of the Centennial Commission.
The New York Illustrated response to the proposal acknowledges that
“the idea is undoubtedly brilliant“, but we shall anticipate considerable difficulty in working it. Who are to give the popular vote!
The exercise of the suffrage by married men might lead to difficulties on the part of wives.
Female suffrage would perhaps hardly give a fair result, as the more undoubtedly pretty a girl should be, the more certainly would her sisters refuse her their votes”
New York Illustrated
The Pretty Girl prize seems fraught with jeopardy, No further details were provided.
Extraorinary Duel Between Two French Noblemen – Belfast Newsletter 9th March 1876
The Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph reported on a duel between two French noblemen that took place lose to the Belgian frontier “under the most revolting circumstances”.
The quarrel originated in a fashionable drawing-room as a count and a duke were discussing politics. The debate became heated to the extent that the count lost his temper and struck the duke on the face.
The duke sought his friends immediately afterwards, and swore to them that “he would never see his family again until he had washed out the insult with the blood of his adversary”. No time was lost in arranging for the contest to take place next day.
The combat was fierce. Before long the duke was wounded in two places – in the arm and in the chest. With blood streaming from his wounds the duke continued though he has barely able to stand. The duel result seemed to be inevitable but suddenly the duke threw himself forward, delivering a mortal blow to his opponent. The count dropped to the ground and died in short order.
The duke then staggered forwards, and bending over the dead man, steeped his handkerchief in the blood that flowed from the fatal wounds. After rubbing the gory cloth on his face, he turned to his friends and said,
“I confide this handkerchief to you, that you may hand it to the duchess, my wife. Tell her to place it among the marriage gifts of our daughter; it is the dowry of her father, the purity of his name.”
Scarcely had he uttered these words when he too died, a smile upon his face with the knowledge that his honour had been satisfied.
The Newfoundland Ghost – Londonderry Journal 29th March 1876
“Footfalls on the Boundary of Another World”
On 29th March 1876, the Londonderry Journal carried “a marvellous story of coincidences” recounted by
Robert Dale Owen, in his book “Footfalls on the Boundary of Another World.”
Mr. Owen notes that the story was communicated to him by Mr. Robert Bruce, first mate on a barque (i.e. a small sailing ship with three or more masts), trading between Liverpool and St. John, New Brunswick, Canada.
On one voyage, nearing the eastern portion of the banks of Newfoundland, the captain and mate had been on deck at noon, taking an observation of the sun, after which they both descended to calculate their location and any adjustments required to the route.
The captain’s cabin was at the stern of the vessel, opposite the mate’s room. The rooms were separated only by a narrow stairway.
The Vision
The mate’s desk was in the front part of the room close to the door, offering a view of the captain’s cabin by a simple look over his shoulder.
The result of the mate’s calculations did not show the outcome expected and, indeed, varied considerably from the dead reckoning. Double-checking his calculations the result was the same. He called to the Captain to confirm his calculations of latitude and longitude. As there was no reply, he repeated his question, glancing over his shoulder, and seeing, as he thought, the captain busy writing on his slate. Still no answer.
Mr Bruce arose and entered the captain’s cabin. The figure behind the desk raised it’s head.
“and disclosed to the astonished mate the features of an entire stranger. Bruce was not a coward; but, as he met that fixed gaze looking upon him in grave silence, and became assured that it was no one whom he had ever seen, it was too much for him; he rushed up to the deck in such evident alarm”
He approached the captain who, noticing Bruce’s evident distress, queried the cause of the mate’s discomfort. Mr Bruce replied quietly “Who is that at your desk?” The captain replied “No one, that I know of.”
“But there is, sir; there’s a stranger there”
“A stranger! Why, man, you must be dreaming. You must have seen the steward there or the second mate. Who else would venture down without my orders ?”
“But, sir, he was sitting in your arm-chair, fronting the door, writing on your slate. Then he looked up full in my face; and, if I ever saw a man plainly and distinctly in this world, I saw him.”
“Him! Who ?”
“God knows, sir; I don’t. I saw a man, and a man I never in my life saw before.”
‘“You must be going crazy, Mr. Bruce. A stranger, and we’re nearly six weeks out.”
“I know, sir; but then I saw him.”
“Go down and see who it is.”
Bruce hesitated. “I never was a believer in ghosts,” he said: “but, if the truth must be told, sir, I’d rather not face it alone.”
“Come, come, man. Go down at once, and don’t make a fool of yourself before the crew.”
“I hope you have always found me willing to do what’s reasonable,” Bruce replied, embarrassed, “but if it’s all the same to you, sir, I’d rather we should go down together.”
A Puzzle
The captain and the mate went down to the cabin. It was empty. The mates room was also empty. The captain suggested that Mr Bruce must have been dreaming but the mate insisted that he had witnessed a stranger writing on the captain’s slate.
The captain picked up the slate and said “My God! there’s something sure enough. Is that your writing, Mr. Bruce.”
The mate took the slate; and there, in plain, legible characters, were the words, “Steer to nor’-west.” The captain sat down at his desk, turned the slate over and told the mate write those same words. The mate wrote the words as commanded and handed the slate back. The handwriting differed significantly.
The captain instructed Mr Bruce to bring the second mate to come down. The process was repeated with no similarity in the handwriting. In succession every man aboard who could write was brought down to write on the slate. There was no match.
The ship was then thoroughly searched for a stowaway as this seemed the only reasonable explanation. No-one was found.
A Change of Route?
Returning to the cabin after their fruitless search, Mr Bruce and the captain discussed the mystery.
The captain revealed that he was tempted to follow the directions to unravel the mystery. Mr Bruce agreed, suggesting that a few hours would be lost at most.
With the decision made the ship followed a north-westerly course.
The Mysterious Stranger
A few hours later the lookout alerted the captain to an iceberg ahead. Moments later he reported that there seemed to be a vessel close to it. As they approached it, the captain’s glass revealed that it was a damaged ship apparently frozen to the ice, and with many human beings on the deck.
They approached carefully and sent out boats to rescue the victims. Those brought back on the first boat explained that this was a vessel from Quebec, heading to Liverpool.
As one of the men stepped up from the third boat, the mate caught a glimpse of the face he had witnessed at the captain’s desk. He turned to the captain and whispered…
“It seems that was not a ghost I saw to-day, sir; the man’s alive.”
The captain replied “What do you mean? Who’s alive?”
“Why sir, one of the passengers we have just saved is the same man I saw writing on your slate at noon. I would swear to it in a court of justice.”
They approached the stranger who was conversing with the captain of the damaged ship. They were both asked to step down to the cabin below.
On entering the cabin, the captain turned to the mystery passenger and said, “I hope, sir, you will not think I am trifling with you; but I would be much obliged if you would write a few words on this slate,” He handed over the slate, blank side up. The passenger, puzzled, asked what he was supposed to write. “Steer nor’west.” was the reply.
The captain of the barque took back the slate, examined the writing and then turned slightly to ensure that no-one saw him turn the slate over. Showing the original words he asked the passenger to confirm that the writing was his. The passenger looked at the slate and replied “Of course, you saw me write it.”
The captain slowly turned the slate over saying “And this?” The man took the slate and turned it over several times before replying “I only wrote one of these. Who wrote the other?”
“My first mate saw you write those words at noon today, sitting at this very desk”
The captain turned then to the captain of the damaged ship and asked if he knew where the man was at noon that day. The captain replied
“the whole thing is most mysterious, and I had intended to speak to you about it as soon as we got a little quiet. This gentleman (pointing to the passenger), being much exhausted, fell into a heavy sleep, or what seemed sleep, some time before noon.
After an hour or more he awoke, and said to me: “Captain, we shall be relieved this very day”. When I asked him what reason he had for saying so, he replied that he had dreamed that he was on board a barque, and that she was coming to our rescue. He described her appearance and rig, and, to our utter astonishment, when your vessel hove in sight she corresponded exactly to his description of her.
We had not thought much of what he had said, yet still we hoped there might be something in it, for drowning men, you know, will catch at straws. As it has turned out, I cannot doubt that it was all arranged, in some incomprehensible way, by an overruling Providence, so that we might be saved.”
The passenger added
“I got the impression that the barque I saw in my dream was coming to rescue us, but how that impression came I cannot tell. Everything here on board seems to me quite familiar; yet I am very sure that I was never in your vessel before. It is all a puzzle to me.”
A mystery indeed!
Link to Previous Monthly News
Previous monthly news stories can be viewed here Monthly News of 150 Years Ago
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