Annual Register Volume 71 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1830 Excerpt: ...themselves if attacked; Mr. Greer, a magistrate, gave them directions rather to put up with offence than break the law; they thought, if they advanced, there would be blood spilled, and therefore they stopped and wanted peace; there was no loading of guns that witness saw till they came to the bridge. The Counsel for the prisoners here stated, that they had a number of other witnesses to the same effect, but thought it useless to waste the time of the Court, and closed the defence. Baron Pennefather charged the jury. Henry Mallon said he saw the deceased O'Neill coming forward and shaking hands with the prisoner Read; that, on returning to go to his own party, he was immediately shot by Read, who had a gun, and that the shot which deprived O'Neill of his life, was the first shot fired: he then says it was the second shot; that O'Neill had not joined his own party before he was shot, and that he saw him dead; that is the account given by this witness, and if true, no one could hesitate in pronouncing the prisoner, Read, guilty of the crime of murder. But consider if this be true. He does not attend the coroner's inquest, or swear any informations pefore a magistrate. He says he told this immediately after to priest Weanny, his parish priest; if so, is it to be contended that that gentleman in the discharge of his duty would have omitted bringing forward Mallon before the coroner, who, he says, was then doing his duty when the communication was so made. He says, he was well acquainted with O'Neill's family; and could it be supposed he would have been suffered to remain without coming forward? Daniel Corr, another witness for the prosecution, says, he saw the parties coming forward, and that they were armed on both sides, and that Williamson was the man who sh...