William Mcilveen

343

Maureen Withey on 30th November 2024

County of Antrim Assizes. Child Murder. Wm. and Ellen McIlveen, for the murder of Arthur M‘Ilveen, on the 17th June last, at Belfast. Margaret Smith—Lived, in June last, in 101, Carrick-hill, Belfast: knows Wm. and Ellen MéIlveen, his wife; knew a child Wm. Miéilveen had, that was two years old ; said it was his child, and that his first wife was the mother of that child ; prisoners and child lived in same house with prisoners, occupied a back room, on first floor ; Witness occupied front room ; they were adjoining, and  a wall be- tween them, and a door in the wall ; heard no voices in prisoners’ room; heard asleep; on 17th June last, saw the child half-an-hour before nine in the morning; it was then in bed; was in same health as she had before seen it; heard a noise in the room before ten o'clock: saw the female prisoner go in; the other prisoner did not go in for some time afterwards; both were in before she heard the noise; heard the noise a very short time after the male prisoner went in ; the noise was like a struggle and then like a heavy weight coming down on the boards; heard no crying at that time; it was a good while before she saw  the child after this—several minutes; was in the lap of the female prisoner in room ; the child appeared to be dead, but it was not so; there was a little blood on its mouth and nose; female prisoner held down the child to where witness was sitting; witness called out murder ! —the child is murdered ;” the female prisoner desired witness to hold her tongue; did not blame the female prisoner with murdering the child; asked witness if she would give the child a little punch; witness said she need not, as the child was gone; the step-mother did nothing  but went out ; went into the prisoners’ room after that; the male prisoner was alone in the room; the woman went first into her own apartment with the child, and then went out of the house ; the male prisoner was sitting at the fire; observed nothing on the floor; saw a few sparks of blood on the back of Lis hand; asked him what he was about this morning ?—he gave no answer ; asked what made him murder the child ?—was it he did it, or who did it ?—witness threatened to prosecute him for the murder of the child; could not hear what he said, but he put witness out ; ... ... In defence, it was attempted to be established that the prisoner had been uniformly kind to his child, but that he was addicted to drinking. The Jury returned a verdict of Manslaughter against William M‘Ilveen, and acquitted the other prisoner.  Newry Telegraph, 21 Aug 1829.

343

Maureen Withey on 30th November 2024

Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry. William McIlveen, age on arrival, 39, per James Pattison (1) 1830, Tried 1791, at Antrim, Life for Manslaughter. DOB, 1814, Native place, Antrim Co, Widower, 2 children, Protestant, Labourer officers servant cook.