December 16, 2010

1910

Tribune EditorialWeighted with issues of the very gravest import for the future happiness and prosperity of Ireland and for the emancipation of the democracy of England, the second General Election that has been forced upon us within a single year is drawing to a close. Eleven months ago, the issue so far as it concerned Ireland was clear and straight, but it was not so well defined as it has been during the present momentous struggle.

At the January election, the factionists had the transient advantage which the concealment of their nefarious designs brought them, and they had the satisfaction of obscuring in some measure the issues at stake.

In the interval, the cat has escaped out of the factionist bag: it has been made manifest which side disruptionists are on. To-day there is no doubt about the purpose and object of the struggle. The two plain questions which the electors have been given to solve are: For or against the House of Lords? For or against Home Rule for Ireland? We have no doubt as to the ultimate solution that will be arrived at.

The democracy of England has put up a solid and united fight against the usurping autocrats; the Nationalists have completely routed the traitorous factionists. The magnificent rally of the Irish people under the banner of National unity has exceeded the anticipations of the most sanguine Nationalists.

Want of fuelThe need for fuel amongst the poor is really a great want just now, turf being almost impossible to buy. Worse still, it is that those who do not really want it badly are the very people to pay the highest price, or who could buy coal instead. Should the agent for the landlord consent to take the need of fuel into consideration, I trust he does so only in the interests of the poor.

1935

Spill the whiskeyMrs Delia Browne, publican, Bishop-street, Tuam, was prosecuted by Guard McGinn, food and drugs inspector, for refusing to sell him a quantity of whiskey out of a bottle she had displayed in the shop. Mr. F. Meagher, solr., appeared for defendant.

Guard McGinn said he went to defendant’s shop and asked for a half pint of whiskey out of a bottle bearing a label marked J.J. and S. and having a tap affixed to it. Mrs. Browne said: “For God’s sake, Guard, take it from another bottle. We got this whiskey in jars and it was muddy.”

Witness again asked her for a half pint of the whiskey in that particular bottle and Mrs. Brown said there was not a half a pint of whiskey in it. Mrs. Browne then took down the bottle and spilled the contents on the floor.

She said to witness: “You are the father of a family and don’t do anything to injure me. Take the whiskey from another bottle,” which she took off the shelf, but witness said he would not.

That evening, Mrs. Browne sent for him and apologised for what she had done and said it was Cassidy’s whiskey that was in the bottle which she spilled.

Mr. Meagher, solr., said the defendant had no experience of business before she married and took over the management of this business. The whiskey that was in the bottle the guard asked for was muddy and not on sale.

Mrs. Browne said she had the whiskey in the bottle to drain as it was muddy. None of that whiskey had been sold by her. Replying to Guard McGinn, she said there was a tap on the bottle. It was the even before the Tuam great October fairs, but if farmers called in for a drink of whiskey, she would not have supplied them out of that bottle because it was too muddy. Asked by the justice why she did not supply the guard out of the bottle he asked for, witness said that she was not selling that whiskey and spilled in the excitement.

Justice: Why didn’t you spill it before the guard came in? Witness: I had not much experience and never saw the whiskey muddy like this before. Defendant was fined 40s and ordered to pay 4s expenses.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.