February 11, 2010

Hunter confusionConstable Colreavy summoned James Robinson and Martin Madden, Loughrea for having been unlawfully in pursuit of game at Aille on the 23rd ult. Dr. Comyn appeared for the defendants.

Constable Colreavy deposed that he met the defendants at Aille on the 23rd of last month. On questioning them, Robinson said they were out for a walk. Witness charged them with having game in their possession, unlawfully obtained, which they denied.

Witness then told them that if they did no give up the game, he would search them. They replied they would not allow him to do so. They both carried sticks, which the witness produced. He insisted on their giving up the game, and at length witness, with the aid of another constable who accompanied him, succeeded in taking two rabbits out of their pockets.

In a struggle which took place between Madden and Constable Leary, the head was pulled off one of the rabbits (laughter). James Robinson gave his name as “John Burns, Loughrea”. They had the defendants under observation for almost three hours. Defendants were wearing overcoats when they met them. They did not wear any during the time they had them under observation. They had six dogs, including two hounds, with them.

In dross-examination by Dr. Comyn, witness said he saw the defendant in pursuit of game on the lands of Aille grazing farm, occupied by Mr. Cooke. He was about a quarter of a mile away from them. There were times when he lost sight of them.

Witness was able to swear the defendants were the two men he saw going through the firs on Mr. Cooke’s farm on the date in question. It was not by the dogs he identified them. They did not say they were on Mr. Conway’s land. They said they were only out for a walk.Constable Leary corroborated.

Dr. Comyn said he would examine James Robinson for Madden, as he could give no evidence on his own behalf.

James Robinson stated that Martin Madden was in company with him on the day on question on Mr Conway’s lands. They had leave from Mr. Conway to hunt on his land. Madden was not at any time during that day on Mr. Cooke’s land at Aille.

Cross-examined by complainant: Mr. Conway’s farm was to the right of the road leading to Loughrea. They spent the evening on those lands.

Martin Madden swore that Robinson was on Mr. Cooke’s farm that day, when he was ordered by Dr. Comyn, amidst laughter, to come down.

The Bench imposed a fine of 30s and costs in each case, with the alternative of 14 days in jail.

1935

Turf schemeDuring the week, an inspector under the Government’s Turf Scheme visited Tuam district and arranged for committees to be appointed somewhat on the co-operative system to carry out the scheme in these different districts.

Another inspector visited Tuam also in connection with the Government’s scheme for the allotment of plot for the unemployed. He explained that land can be acquired in and near the town, if necessary, by compulsion and the Government supplies seed, manure and implements free for the working of such plots.

The town board will lose nothing by introducing the scheme and the only rent payable by the tenants of such plots will be 1s a year. It was decided to appoint a committee of the town board to meet the organiser, I.T. and G.W.U. and ascertain the number of unemployed to qualify for such posts.

Shock accidentA shocking accident occurred at Rathruddy, near Loughrea, when a young man named John Madden, Cahernaman, farmer’s son, who was attending a thresher, accidentally got caught in the machine while in motion and had portion of his arm almost torn off.

Medical aid was requisitioned and it was deemed advisable to amputate the limb from above the elbow. Madden, who is an only son, was subsequently conveyed to Galway hospital where he lies in a critical condition.

The machine, worked with the aid of two horses, belonged to a man named Michael Joseph Callanan, Shrah, who was engaged at threshing operations at the house of a farmer named Patrick Callanan, Rathruddy, when the unfortunate accident occurred.

Cupid’s busyThe report of the Register-General for 1933 states that Cupid was more active in County Galway than in any other county outside Cork during that year. There was in Galway 669 marriages; Mayo 587; Roscommon 318 and Clare 329. Galway had 3,881 births during the year, against 2,031 for County Dublin, whilst the number of marriages in County Dublin was 650.

The Mayo births were 2,992; Roscommon 1,335 and Clare 1,606. Births in Galway and Mayo are up to the highest average for the whole country.

Illegitimate births in Galway during the year totalled 73; Mayo 31; Roscommon 23 and Clare 47. There were 12 deaths of women in confinement against 4 in Mayo and 2 in Roscommon.

For more, read page 34 of this week's Connacht Tribune.