June 1876 News – A Body Found at Clogher and a Car Accident at Meigh
The Courts – June 1876
Body Found at Clogher – Fermanagh Mail and Enniskillen Examiner 1st June 1876
The Fermanagh Mail and Enniskillen Examiner reported on 1st June 1876 on a Coroners Inquest into the discovery of a body in Clogher.
On Thursday of the previous week the police were informed of a body found in the townland of Middle Dromore, on the road leading from Clogher to Fintona, Visiting the scene, Sub Constables Mulcahy and Irwin removed moss to verify the report and confirmed it was the remains of a human body. The body was badly mutilated with many bones detached. The body itself was described as having “a chalky or cheese-like appearance.”
On lifting the uppermost remains out “most of the bones and part of the scalp, with one ear and hair attached” were visible. The hair was reddish brown. The body, found on a slope was lying on its back, the head facing down the hill and feet upwards. The location was where the turf banks end, next to a small stream. The body was buried approximately 15 inches from the surface.
Given that it is turf-cutting season, it was estimated that there could have been up to 400 persons in the vicinity. Questioning the locals proved pointless. There were no witnesses, no clues but a myriad of opinions as to the sex, name and how the body came to be there at all. One old man suggested “distillation“.
When the remains were extracted Patrick McNally, who had reported the body initially, took the bones to the police barrack on his cart to await the Coroners Inquest.
Dr Hamilton, a coroner from Cookstown, held the inquest. A jury of 12 persons (all male) was sworn in.
The first witness called was Patrick McNally, who stated to the coroner:
“I live in the townland of Mallabeny and I was cutting turf in Dromore bog. I cut some old turf. It was when I come at the head of the body that I stuck my spade into it,..
When I had it stripped I then knew it was the body of a human being. I then called my neighbours who were in the bog, as we thought better to cover it up again, and inform the police. 1 had injured the skull with my spade, and when I found out that I went about it very carefully. I did not move it.
I have no idea of who the body might be. Heard there was a boy lost 13 years of age. about four years ago. When I found the body it was lying on its back. I observed hair on the head, but could not say what length it was. I think my spade took the skin and hair off when 1 first touched it. I saw no clothes nor the appearance of anything about like a coffin.”
Addressing the foreman of the jury he added…
“The place is still in the same way since. It appeared as it the ground had been disturbed about where the body was found. It was almost solid about the body, but not, so firm as the bog on either side. It would not attract your attention more than any other part of the bog.
Next to the stand, Dr W A Smyth stated that he was called by the police on the 25th, to see the remains of a human being. At the scene, he found the body covered up. Further examination found a fractured skull with scalp damage. One leg had recently been cut off at the knee, presumably by the turf cutter. Hands and feet were missing. The arms, ribs and lower jaw bone were there but detached from the body.
Despite a minute inspection of the remains he could draw no conclusion on how long the body had lain there. He suggested 50 years but qualified that guess by reminding the jury that, buried in peat, the body may have been there much longer. He suggested that the body was an adult male (though he could not say this for certain).
There was no possibility of ascertaining the cause of death from the state of the remains. The major bones were visible but “all the fatty matter was turned hard and cheese like, which would indicate its great age.” He suggested that the quantity of hardened fat indicated a well-nourished body. Age could be estimated as around 23 years of age.
One jury member, Mr McAleer, asked if the body and bones would decompose more quickly if exposed to the air. By way of explanation, he added that he had visited the site and an old lady, living nearby, said that she had to chase a dog from that same spot several times the previous summer.
The Coroner then briefly addressed the jury on the case, summarising the evidence, the different forms of decomposition, the uncertain sex of the body (though he suggested female).
By the direction of the coroner, the jury returned a verdict that “a dead body, sex or age unknown, was found in a bog in the townland of Dromore.”
Car accident at Meigh – Newry Telegraph 29th June 1876
This case related to a road traffic accident on the 25th April 1876.
Mr R.G. Bull, an RIC Sub-Inspector, and Mr. Patrick D’Alton, a Newry reporter, both sought damages from Mr James Maginnis to an amount of £20 each. The accusation was that the defendant, Mr Maginnis, carelessly drove a horse and cart on the public road at Meigh, County of Armagh and unlawfully collided with the plaintiff’s jaunting car causing damage to the car itself and injury to Mr D’Alton. Two other passengers in the jaunting car were uninjured.
Mr Bull testified that he was on duty at Forkhill with his own horse and car, investigating a recent murder. He was returning home that evening with Head-Constable Richards and two reporters of the Newry papers – Mr. Patrick D’Alton, and Mr. Gleeson.
At about 9pm they were confronted with an oncoming cart leaving no room to pass. As they were on a downhill incline there was no opportunity to stop. As the cars neared each other the cart suddenly swerved across the jaunting car, overturning it and throwing all aboard to the ground. One of the reporters, Mr D’Alton, “was rendered insensible by the fall.” Mr. D’Alton was unable to stand after the accident and was carried home in a car brought to the scene.
The shafts of the jaunting car were broken with its wheels spinning in the air
Following the collision, Mr Bull seized the errant horse and was confronted by its owner, Mr Maginnis. Mr Bull detained the accused, highlighting that the jaunting car was on its own side of the road but had not been left any room to avoid the collision.
In court, Mr Bull suggested that “there is no doubt if Maginnis had kept his own side of the road there would have been no collision. I do not think Maginnis was sober.”
Under cross-examination, Mr Maginnis stated that he “had got but two glasses of whiskey in Forkhill, and was quite sober when leaving that village.” He emphasised that his cart was to his own side of the road when the accident took place.
Head-Constable Richards, in evidence, corroborated the evidence of the Mr Bull as did the other passengers in his jaunting car.
Mr. P. D’Alton was examined, and gave evidence as to the nature of the injuries he had received explaining that he had been confined to the house for a fortnight, one week of that time in bed. He then had to carry his arm in a sling for three weeks and was unable to work. He testified that he was still enduring intense physical suffering, his left arm was powerless and his neck stiff.
Mr. Bannon, a coach builder from Newry, was called to give evidence of the damage sustained by the jaunting car. He suggested that repairs would cost between £7 5s and £7 10s.
For the defence, two passers-by encountering the scene of the accident, were questioned. William Donay stated that he found Mr. Bull’s car lying overturned in the centre of the road with plenty of room for a cart to pass it on either side. The suggestion that the jaunting car had no room to manoeuvre did not seem consistent with the scene of the accident that he saw. Mr P. Loe gave similar evidence on the position of the car and the width of the road.
Given the conflicting accounts, his WORSHIP held that Mr. Bull was guilty of contributory negligence in not having pulled up his horse when he saw Magunis’s cart 100 yards ahead. He therefore awarded Mr. Bull only £1 and Mr. D’Alton £6.
ASSAULT BY A HUSBAND – Belfast Weekly Telegraph 17 June 1876
Sub-Constable Mowens brought John Casey, a quay porter, before the court on charges of assault and Drunk & Disorderly behaviour the previous evening in Holme’s Court.
The Constable reported that he had been alerted to the crime on hearing loud shouts from Mr Casey. Arresting him on the grounds of drunk & disorderly behaviour, the accused’s wife came forward claiming that he had assaulted her. She insisted that she wanted the assault taken to court.
In evidence, Mrs Casey testified that he had come home drunk and proceeded to strike her. It was not an unusual occurrence as “he earned about 3s 6d a day at the quay, and he was in the habit of spending the most of it in drink”.
In reply to the Bench. the prisoner testified that he had gone to bed yesterday but was awakened by his wife removing the quilt and taking it outside. He was following her outside to retrieve the bedding when he was approached and arrested by Sub-Constable Mowens.
The Court, unimpressed with his defence, sentenced the prisoner to two months’ imprisonment.
A Cautionary Warning for Boys – Belfast Weekly Telegraph 17 June 1876
Sub-Constable M’Garvey brought a young lad named John Boyce to court charged with firing stones with a catapult at one of the public lamps on the University Road.
The constable stated that, in recent months, many lamps had been broken in the neighbourhood by boys using catapults.. In this case the prisoner struck the lamp post rather than the glass, no damage was sustained.
The Court took a dim view of the attempted vandalism and inflicted a heavy fine of 5s and costs.
How clean is your yard? – Belfast Weekly Telegraph 10th June 1876
Margaret Mulholland, residing at No. 9, Joy’s Entry, was summoned for permitting a nuisance to exist upon her house or premises. Evidence was given by one of the Sanitary Inspectors that the house was in a dilapidated condition, and the yard in a filthy state. An order was made by the Court to have the nuisance at once abated.Similar orders were made against Anne Jane Murray, of No. 11, Joy’s Entry, and against Messrs. Watson, Henderson, & Lester, of High Street, for permitting premises in Joy’s Entry to be in a state injurious to health.
“An Incorrigible” – Belfast Weekly Telegraph 17 June 1876
Catherine Dill, a woman with fifty-two previous convictions, was brought to court in the custody of Sub-Constable Kerr, charged with having been drunk and disorderly, and making use of party expressions.
The constable having completed his evidence, Mr Hamilton, for the defence, commented on the seemingly good health of the accused, saying that on previous occasions she did not look as though she would survive the trial. In fact, he informed those present, she “looked better today than ever he had seen her.”
The prisoner said her time in jail “had her nearly kilt.” She added that she did not expect to be long alive.
Taking into account her efforts to reform her behaviour and her plea for mercy the Court sentenced her to a month’s imprisonment.
Coleraine Assault: “Is my husband there?” – Northern Star 26 June 1876
A case was brought before the court on behalf of Mary McCormick, who had been assaulted the previous day in Ritchie’s Place.
A woman introducing herself as Mrs Weams appeared at her front door, demanding to know the whereabouts of her husband. “Is he here?” she asked. When Mary McCormick answered that he was not, Mrs Weams pushed past her, lifted a candlestick and struck her savagely on the head.
Given that this attack was carried out without provocation the Bench imposed a penalty of 10s and 10s costs.
Trowel by Jury – Northern Star 26th June 1876
In Coleraine, John Pollock appeared before the court charged with the theft of one trowel and one pruning knife. These were described as the property of William Kirkpatrick, architect and builder, at Coleraine.
The jury found him guilty of the theft.
Robert Winton – Theft of £2
Also in Coleraine, a young man named Robert Winton was brought to court on the accusation that he did, ‘on the 4th April, utter a forged order for the payment of £2, knowing the same to be forged‘.
The trial proceeded no further with the jury finding the defendant guilty without him leaving the box.
Winton was, accordingly, sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment, with hard labour.
Adverts – Northern Star 26 June 1876
ADVICE TO MOTHERS.-Are you broken in your sleep by a sick child suffering with the pain of cutting teeth? Go at once to a Chemist and get a bottle of MRS. WINSLOW’s TOOTHING SYRUP. It will relieve the poor sufferer immediately. It is perfectly harmless and pleasant to taste, it produces natural, quiet sleep, by relieving the child from pain, and the little cherub awakes “as bright as a button.”
It soothes the child, it softens the gums, allays all pain, relieves wind regulates the bowels, and is the best known remedy for dysentery and diarrhoea, whether arising from teething or other causes. Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup is Sold by Medicine Dealers everywhere at 1s ½d per bottle.- Manufactured in New York, and at 403, Oxford Street
VALUABLE DISCOVERY FOR THE HAIR.-If your hair is turning grey or white, or falling off, use “The Mexican Hair Renewer,” for it WILL POSITIVELY RESTORE IN EVERY CASE GREY OR WHIT& HAIR to its original colour, without leaving the disagreeable smell of most “Restorers.”It makes the hair charmingly beautiful, as well as promoting the growth of the hair on bald spots, where the glands are not decayed. Ask your chemist for the “MEXICAN HAIR RENEWER,” prepared by H. C. GALLUP, 493, Oxford Street, London. and sold by Chemists and Perfumers everywhere at 3s 6d per bottle.
Link to Previous Monthly News
Previous monthly news stories can be viewed here Monthly News of 150 Years Ago
Help Us Find New Readers
Belfast Entries is hobby website produced entirely by a retired husband & wife featuring articles on our shared history, memories and entertaining stories of our past. The stories are free to all. If you like our posts please help us to grow our readership by sharing the posts. A growing readership would be very much appreciated.
If you enjoy Belfast Entries please consider a small donation
If you wish to To help us meet website creation/ maintenance costs please click the coffee cup below to learn how to make a small donation. Please note that every contribution is valued and that we will acknowledge your contribution below (forename only or “Anonymous” if you prefer).
Donations this month 3
Thank you Damian
Thank you Sinead
Thank you R. Meharg
We had 2 donation last month.
Copyright Notice
Belfast Entries posts & photos are our intellectual property and copyrighted to us. Where we use photos that do not belong to us, it is because we believe them to be in the public domain or shared under a Creative Commons licence with appropriate attribution. None of our content or images can be used without our consent. Note that a link to our Copyright & Takedown notice is included in the website footer on all pages.
0 Comments