House-Breaking

IRELAND

THE KING v. MAURICE NOONAN

In this case, tried at the Cork Assizes, the prisoner stood indicted for attempting to rob the house of Sir John Purcell, at Highfort, on the night of the 14th of March last. The trial excited considerable interest, and the Court was crowded at an early hour on Monday.

Sir John Purcell deposed that on the night of the 14th of March last, after he had retired to bed, he heard some noise outside the window of his parlour. He slept on the ground floor in a room immediately adjourning the parlour. There was a door from one room into the other, but this having been found inconvenient, and there being another passage from the bedchamber more accommodating, it was sealed up, and some of the furniture of the parlour placed against it. Shortly after Sir John heard the noise in front of his house, the windows of the parlour were dashed in, and the noise occasioned by the feet of the robbers leaping from the windows appeared to denote a gang not less than fourteen. He immediately got out of bed, and the first determination he took being to make resistance, it was with no small mortification that he reflected upon the unarmed condition in which he was placed, being destitute of a single weapon. In this state it occurred to him, that having supped in the bedchamber, a knife had been left behind, and he immediately proceeded to grope for this weapon, which happily he found. While he stood in expectation that the progress of the robbers would soon lead them to his bed-chamber, he heard the furniture which had been placed against the nailed up door expeditiously displaced, and immediately afterwards this door was burst open. The moon shone with great brightness, and when this door was thrown open, the light streaming through three large windows in the parlour, afforded Sir John a view that might have made an intrepid spirit not a little apprehensive. His bed–room was darkened to excess, in consequence of the shutters of the windows as well as the curtains being closed; and thus while he stood enveloped in darkness he saw, standing before him, by the brightness of the moonlight, a body of men all armed, and of those who were in the van of the gang, he observed that a few were blackened. Armed only with this case knife, he took his station by the side of the door, and a moment after, one of the villains entered. Instantly upon advancing, Sir John plunged the knife at him, the point of which entered under the right arm and so home was the blow sent, that the knife passed into the robber’s body, until Sir John’s hand stopped its progress. Upon receiving this thrust, the villain reeled back, crying out blasphemously that he was killed, and shortly after another advanced who was received in a similar manner, and who also staggered back into the parlour, crying out that he was wounded. A voice from the outside gave orders to fire into the darkened room; upon which a man stepped forward with a short gun, which had the butt broken off at the small, and which had a piece of cord tied round the barrel and stock near the swell. As this fellow stood in the act to fire, Sir John saw that the contents of the piece were likely to pass close to his breast without menacing him with any serious wound, and in this state of expectation, he stood until the piece was fired, and its contents harmlessly lodged in the wall. As soon as the robber fired, Sir John made a pass at him with the knife, and wounded him in the arm, which he repeated again in a moment, with a similar effect, and as the others had done, the villain, upon being wounded, retired, exclaiming that he was wounded. The robbers immediately rushed forward from the parlour into the dark room. Sir John now thought that all chance of preserving his own life was over, and he resolved to sell that life still dearer to his intended murderers, that even what they had already paid for the attempt to deprive him of it. He did not lose a moment after the villains had entered the room to act with the determination he had already adopted; he struck at the fourth fellow with his knife, and wounded him, and at the same instant he received a blow on the head and found himself grappled with. He shortened his hold of the knife, and stabbed repeatedly at the fellow with whom he found himself engaged. The floor being slippery from the blood of the wounded man, Sir John and his adversary both fell, and while they were on the ground, Sir John thinking that his thrust with the knife, though made with all his force, did not seem to produce the desired effect, he examined the point with his finger, and found the blade had bent near the point. As he lay struggling on the ground he endeavoured, but unsuccessfully, to straighten the curvature in the knife, but while one hand was employed in this attempt, he perceived the grasp of his adversary was losing its constraint and pressure, and in a moment or two after he found himself shortly released from it–the limbs of the robber were in fact by this time unnerved by death. Sir John found that this fellow had a sword in his hand, and this he immediately seized, and gave several blows with it, his knife being no longer serviceable; at length the robbers finding so many of their party had been killed or wounded, employed themselves in removing the bodies, and Sir John took this opportunity of retiring into a place a little apart from the house, where he remained for a short time. They dragged their companions into the parlour, and having placed the chairs with the backs upwards, by means of these they lifted the bodies out of the windows, and afterwards took them away. When the robbers departed, Sir John returned to the house, and called up a man servant from his bed, who, during this long and bloody conflict, had not appeared, and had consequently received from his master an angry and loud upbraiding for his cowardice. Sir John then placed his daughter-in-law and grand-child, who were his only inmates, in places of safety, and took such precaution as circumstances pointed out, till the day-light appeared. The next day the alarm having been given, search was made after the robbers, and Sir John having gone to the home of the prisoner Maurice Noonan, upon searching, he found concealed under the bed the identical short gun with which one of the robbers had fired at him. Noonan was immediately secured and sent to jail, and upon being visited by Sir John Purcell, he acknowledged that Sir John “had like to do for him,” and was proceeding to show until Sir John prevented him, the wounds he had received from the knife in his arm.

An accomplice of the name of John Daniel Sullivan was produced, who deposed to the same effect.

The witness stood a long and rigorous examination by Mr. O’CONNEL–but none of the facts seemed to be shaken, though every use was made of the guilty character of the witness.

The prisoner made no defence, and Judge MAYNE then proceeded to charge the Jury, and commended with due approbation the bravery and presence of mind displayed through a conflict so unequal and so bloody by Sir John Purcell.

The Jury after a few minutes, returned their verdict–Guilty.

PROVINCIAL INTELLIGENCE

Col. Berkeley and Cruelty to Animals

“RATIONAL AMUSEMENT!--A desperate battle took place yesterday, at Ridgway, near Plympton, Not between the celebrated Molineaux and Cribb, But between no less celebrated bull-dogs, severally belonging to Colonel (ci-devant Earl Berkeley), and Mr. Benjamin, umbrella-maker, of this town. After a ferocious contest of one hour, in which Mr. Benjamin’s dog was nearly torn to pieces, the victory terminated in favour of Colonel Berkeley’s dog.--The Colonel went to the ground in his coach, drawn by four greys, accompanied by three or four gentlemen and a lady; and Mr. Benjamin, attended by a friend, followed in his gig. The scene of battle was thronged by a numerous assemblage of distinguished characters!!!--Thus far the Plymouth Telegraph: and a Correspondent adds:--”This Earl is also very fond of killing Cats too. About a week since Mr. Symonds of George-street, Plymouth Dock, hearing (at eleven at night) a great noise in the house opposite, went to his upper room, where he distinctly saw this Earl and some other gentlemen killing cats, of which it appeared they had several (in bags) in the room. One cat was taken out at a time, and each gentleman in succession touched it with the point of a sword, till enraged to madness it flew about the room and was at length killed by repeated touches.--The Earl had also a tame bear some time since, which he (although it was the fondest animal that can be imagined) has killed by fighting it seven times against ferocious mastiffs and bull dogs.”--The Editor of the Plymouth Chronicle, in giving an account of the above piece of brutality, subjoins the following observations:--”We have to add, that the extraordinary laceration of the vanquished animal, presented a spectacle shocking to humanity and degrading to the parties concerned, that the Noble Colonel, like the Hockley-Hole amateurs, in days that thank God are passed, particularly distinguished himself in urging on and inciting his own animal to the combat with redoubled ferocity. The “shrieks of death,” which, under the roof of the Colonel’s Progenitors, once bespoke the dying agonies of a Monarch perishing under a refinement of cruelty, should have taught a lesson of pity and mercy to their descendants for ever.--The hallowed sanctity of the Sabbath has been profaned by the same person in so open a manner, that as Journalists,  we must, as is our bounden duty, hear evidence against the profanation. On Sunday week, Col. B. divested himself by shooting over the manor of Wembury, and in the neighbourhood of the church of that parish too, where the sacred worship of the Supreme God was at the very moment carrying on, as if in defiance of the mandate of his Creator and the laws of this country.--We may be asked our motives for this publicly noticing matters that some persons would say do not concern us; but we are determined, that while the lower classes of society are restrained by the laws and magisterial authority, and while the higher classes too frequently escape, we will endeavour, at least, to make them blush for their follies and vices; if we cannot make sinners tremble, we may restrain them by shame.--Rank with us is no palliative of vice or profligacy;--and while the law may be inert, we will convince the world that the much envied press will yet be active.--We have heard several circumstances of cruelty to animals, which the inhabitants of George-street, Plymouth-Dock, may perhaps understand and elucidate, but we forbear further comment.”

Convict Transport and Love

There are two transports here, having on board a number of male and female convicts for Botany Bay. As a strong instance of the force of love, we learn that a young lady of great respectability and large fortune, attended by some female domestics, is going out with them, for the purpose of being married, on their arrival at the settlement, to one of the above convicts.--Hants Courier.

Seduction

On Thursday se’nnight a Writ of Inquiry to asses the damages in an action wherein Samuel Barber was plaintiff, and John Maris, Jun., was defendant, was executed in the Shire-hall, Norwich, before the Under Sheriff of Norfolk. The action was brought by the plaintiff, a small farmer at Swanton Morley, to recover a compensation for the seduction of his daughter by the defendant, who resides with his father, a farmer, in the same place. It appeared from the evidence, that the defendant had been acquainted with the plaintiff’s daughter for nearly five years, in the character of a lover, and that, after having triumphed over the virtue of the poor girl, by means of promises of marriage, he deserted her, and married a widow at Birmingham.--Verdict for the plaintiff. 80l. Damages.

Population Statistics

According to the Returns already made, the Population of this country is on the increase; but the females are much more numerous than the males. In Norwich alone there are 6000 more females than males.

MILITARY TORTURE.

On Friday morning, T. Carter, a private belonging to the 2d regiment of the Tower Hamlets Militia, received 300 lashes for desertion. The spot chosen for the scene of punishment being a public one, the piercing cries of the poor wretch not only shocked the peaceable inhabitants, but brought a concourse of spectators, who loudly expressed their indignation at this mode of punishment; and when the sufferer came off the field, they entered into a subscription for him.

Eccentric Character

On Monday, a gentleman well known in the Lobby of the House of Commons, desired his undertaker to furnish him with a coffin, to be made of elm, coloured black, without paint, cloth, plate, nails or handles, with his name as usual on the lid. He bound the undertaker in the forfeiture of five dollars, if the coffin was not taken home by ten o’clock next morning. The undertaker was of course punctual, and the gentleman was looking out at the window when the death-hunters were conveying the coffin to his house; but, like the man with his bundle of sticks who prayed for death, when the grim monarch appeared, he requested only help in his weariness; so this eccentric gentleman refused to give his last receptacle admittance, declaring vehemently that he wished to live a little longer to the great diversion of the assembled spectators.

Attempted Abduction of Young Ladies by a Nobleman at Vauxhall

BRUTAL VIOLENCE.--A circumstance happened in the neighbourhood of Vauxhall, at the recent exhibition of a Jewish wedding at Smith’s tea-gardens, which calls for inquiry and justice. It seems that a certain Nobleman, not distinguished for the morality of his conduct, was in a pleasure-boat, with a party of friends, who had their vessel brought near the shore in order to witness the spectacle, and were particularly struck by the appearance of three young women, who were drawn to the spot by the same motive. The Nobleman and two or three of his party attempted to force the girls into the boat, but did not succeed, and the latter went to another part of the gardens. They were followed, however, suddenly seized, and carried into the vessel, and the boatman ordered to proceed to Richmond. The violent screams of the girls at length induced the head of the party to order the boat back to Westminster bridge, where two hackney-coaches were brought, into each of which one of the young women was placed, and the third taken into a phaeton by the Nobleman himself, but covered in such a manner by a box-coat, that she was unable to struggle with him. The girls in the coaches, in spite of all attempts to restrain them, made such a noise as to draw people about them, and with a desperate effort, one of them escaped, but the other was taken to a house of a certain description in the neighbourhood of Soho; luckily however, she caught hold of the iron-railing at the door, and by the assistance of the passengers, was also enabled to escape. The third girl, hearing that her companions had escaped, threw herself encumbered as she was, out of the phaeton and was also rescued by the efforts of the passengers in the street.--Morning Post.