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County Tyrone Assizes A Letter, Tyrone Bribery And Strabane Fair


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County Tyrone Assizes A Letter
Tyrone Bribery And Strabane Fair
As reported in "The Londonderry Journal"

Transcribed & submitted
by Rob Doragh
from the "The Londonderry Journal"
Tuesday 07 August 1838




TYRONE ASSIZES

The following is a list of the convictions that took place at these Assizes, with their sentences:

Daniel GALLAGHER, larceny.to be imprisoned nine months, with hard labour.

William BARLOW, stealing bank notes, to be transported for ten years.

Jane MURPHY, manslaughter, to be imprisoned three weeks.

James M'KEAVER, assault, to be imprisoned three months, with hard labour, and give security to keep the peace, himself £30, and two sureties, £25 each.

Robert M'KEEVER, assault, to be imprisoned three months, with hard labour, and give security to keep the peace, himself £30, and two sureties, £25 each.

Andrew WEIR and Isabella WEIR, coining, to be imprisoned 13 weeks from commital, each to give a security in the sum of £20, and two sureties, £10 each.

Neal CARROLL, burglary, to be transported for 7 years.

Hugh TOMEY, sheep-stealing, to be transported for ten years.

James TRUEMAN, selling base coin, to be imprisoned six months, and kept to hard labour.

Edward STARS, assault, to be imprisoned one fortnight, and give security to keep the peace, himself £20, and two sureties £10 each.

John QUIN, assault, to give security to keep the peace, himself in £50, and two sureties £25 each.

Arthur QUIN, party procession, to give security to abide the judgment of the Court when called on at next petty sessions at Cookstown, himself in £20. and two sureties £10 each.

James HOUSTON and 17 others, party procession, bound to appear when called on to receieve judgment.

Anne BIRMINGHAM, larceny from person, to be transported for 7 years.

Thomas GORDON, Thomas IRWIN, James RICHY, John BARR, and four others, riot, to be imprisoned four months, and find security to keep the peace, each in the sum of £20, and two sureties in £10 each.

Williamm BARR, assault, to be imprisoned six months, and hard labour.

Thomas MOSWOOD, assault, imprisoned one month, and hard labour.

Cornelius HENDERSON, stealing a pig, to be transported seven years.

Catherine M'CULLOUGH, larceny, transported seven years.

Wm WHITESIDE, sheep-stealing, imprisoned 12 months, and hard labour.

James JAMESON, sheep-stealing, imprisoned 12 months, and hard labour.

Biddy M'GALVIN, nANCY DURAGH, Maryanne GRAY, Mary DEVLIN, Sally MAGUIRE, Annabell MITCHELL, Ellen DOGHERTY, Elizabeth ELKIN, and Biddy JACK, vagrants, to be transported seven years, if not bailed to keep the peace within three months.


LETTER RE TYRONE JURORS

To the Editor of the Londonderry Journal

Sir - As a Juror of the Barony of Strabane, I have reason to complain of the manner of summoning Crown Jurors.

The Sheriff sent the summonses to his Bailiff, who, on serving them, told the Juror he had something in his power, and if he would give him five shillings he would not require him to attend the Assizes: and many of them so paid him. He did not confine himself to the number sent by the Sheriff, but got others printed, and directed them to whom he chose.

However, on complaint being made to Judge Torrens, and the fact of his having taken the fee clearly substantiated against him on oath, Tom COLLINS, Process Server and Sheriff's Bailff for this Barony, was called on to defend himself; but being so drunk in court that he was not fit to be examined, his Lordship ordered him to be stripped of his coat and hat, and dismissed. At same time, it having been sworn that M'INTOSH, the Sheriff's Clerk, received money in the same way, his Lordship ordered his discharge also, and reprimanded the Sheriff for their conduct. Is this not a nice system of extorting money from the public?

From this plan of preparing the panel some have to attend both sessions and assizes nearly every time, whilst others who pay the bribe never attend. I think the Sheriff ought to put his seal of office to the summons, so as to prevent the Bailiff imposing on the people with blank ones; and I think he should issue no more summonses than are really necessary, and otherwise arrange that each man would serve in his turn. With your assustance such evils maght be remedied by the new Sheriff's bill.
I am, Sir, yours, A JUROR. Strabane, 4th August 1838


STRABANE FAIR

The number of horses at the Fair, on Wednesady last, was not large, but those shown were of a good description, and sold readily at high prices, there being a good number of English and Scotch dealers over. A mare, bred within a few miles of that town, brought 75 guineas; well bred horses were much looked for. Springers and milch cows, with which the Fair was well supplied, did not sell so high as formerly. Beef cows still maintain their price. Fat pigs brought from 37s* to 38s per cwt**. Slips for keeping were lower, and not so much in demand, owing to the scarcity of potatoes at this season. The Fair passed off quietly, owing to the exertions of the police, under Captain HUNT, who on this, as on every other occasion, displayed his usual activity.

     37s = shillings; **cwt = hundredweight, 112 British pounds.





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