Date Published: 22-Jun-2011

1911

Prisoner’s pathetic plea

At a special court held on Monday, Mr Kilbride, R.M., presiding, a man named Andrew Hopper, who has been employed as night porter in the Railway Hotel, was charged with the larceny of £55 18s 6d from a safe in the hotel.

In a statement, he wrote: “One night, I found out just by curiosity that the key of my pantry opened the bar door, a skeleton key it was, so I went in and helped myself to whiskey and brandy but never touched a penny; only took drink. Well I kept thinking about the money in the till and determined to steal it and clear out. I went in again on Friday morning, took two glasses of whiskey full, then opened the till and saw the key of the safe.

I opened it and when I saw the gold and notes, I could not resist them. I had no intention of touching the safe just the few pounds in the till, only took notes and gold out of the safe.

I had a suit of military uniform in my possession, so I put them on under my own clothes, took a box of cigars and cigarettes, put the money in my bag and took a return ticket to Athlone. In the train I counted the money and found I had £59 1s 6d after paying for my ticket. I never dreamt there was so much.

I met a girl who was going to Glasgow, so I went with her. I drank all day as I had no peace, but thinking of what I had done.

Now, when I am done for, it sounds hypocritical to say I am sorry; I only ask for mercy for my Kitty’s sake. I have lost my character, friends and everything over this false step of mine. This is the first time to have connection with the police. Of course I must be punished; I hope that they will deal easy with me, so that I won’t lose my army pension.

I am willing to hand it over and pay back all I have spent. Don’t make a jail bird of me; it is hard enough that I am in detention. After this no more drink, no more nights and days of torment.

Constable Costigan said the police in Newcastle-on-tyne handed him over £17 19s 4d with the prisoner and his military papers. The prisoner, who sat silent, was returned for trial to the ensuing Assizes.

1936

Hit with a hen

Derreen District Court was held on Friday before Mr. Sean MacGiollarnath, D.J. Mary Farragher, Ballinastack, summoned Mary Burns, same place, for assault and for using abusive language towards her. Mr P.M. Hosty, solicitor, for complainant, and Mr. F.B. McDonogh, solr., for defendant.

Evidence was given that a dispute took place over the trespass of hens on May 7. Mrs. Farragher said that Mrs. Burns hit her with a stone and Mrs. Burns said Mrs. Farragher hit her with a hen.

Sergt. McDonogh, Cummer, said he saw Mrs. Farragher with a cut on the shin bone, caused, she alleged, by a stone thrown by defendant.

The Justice bound Mrs. Burns to the peace for twelve months in £5 bail for the assault and fined her 5s. and costs for using abusive language.

New factory

At a special meeting of the Galway Chamber of Commerce, held in the Chamber Institute on Tuesday evening, the President, Mr. T.J. W. Kenny, announced that there was a possibility of having a brush factory established in Galway shortly.

The factory, the President said, would be started on a big scale, and the capital required would be very little. The factory would be started without any assistance from outside or from the Industrial Credit Corporation.

It would given employment to about one hundred persons in the manufacture of all kinds of brushes. The company would be altogether a Galway-Mayo company. He felt sure that when the prospectus was issued, the factory would have the full support of Galway.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.