James Moore

341

Maureen Withey on 28th January 2022

Bartholomew Egan, James Hannon, James Moore and Edward Egan, having on the night of the 27th inst., feloniously broke open the house of Michael Summers, and threatened to shoot Patrick Corcoran, and fired a pistol loaded with slugs or shot into said house for that purpose. Westmeath Guardian, 24 Feb 1842. Westmeath. Bartholomew Egan, a respectable juror of the county, James Hannon, Edward Egan, and James Moore, were indicted for breaking into the house of Edward Corcoran, and in another count for having tired loaded gun at the said Corcoran, with intent to do him grievous bodily harm ; there were other counts for a riot and tumultuous assemblage. The defence set up was an alibi. They were all found guilty. Warder and Dublin Weekly Mail, 5 March 1842. Patrick Corcoran examined.— I remember the night the 27th of November. 1 was then care-taker in house belonging Mr. Kelly, about the title to which there had been some dispute. 1 had five men in the house with me as assistant care-takers, as we expected every night that it that it would be attacked. that night went over Rochford-bridge, which is about quarter of mile distant, and on the road I met three men, one of them was Bartholomew Egan, he was walking the foot-path, but when he saw me he went into the middle the road as if to shun me, I asked him did he meet a horseman on the road, and he said he did. I was afraid that the party were upon some bad intention, and I went and gave the alarm to the police, who came back with me to the house where I was caretaker. found nothing then, and the police went away, but in about two hours afterwards a party of ten or twelve men came to the house and broke the door, One of them said, blow his brains out.’ I stood all the time with a dagger in my hand, at the room door, and would not let them in on me. The other five men who were the house ran and hid on the loft. Five or six men came in, and many more staid outside. I stabbed one of the men in the side with the dagger, and they then left the house, but before they went, one of the men who was at the door fired shot, and lodged the slugs in the wall, within two feet of my face. They all then ran away The prisoners were arrested the next and I at once identified them being the party. By Mr. Gorman.—When I swore my information I swore only to the best of my belief with regard to Bartholomew. I can say no more now, but that to the best of belief all were there. No man can swear more than his belief. No man is without belief, and I will never swear more than that. I believe the prisoners are some of the persons who were there that I will to nothing more. Chief Justice—Do you know you initial boa giving testimony ? Witness.—l do. Chief .lustice. —are you as sure that the prisoners were there that night as you are that you are there now yourself. Witness. I will only swear what believe—nothing. Thomas Brennan, police constable, —I arrested the prisoners the next day in Egan's house. Three them were in bed together. Moore had a wound his side, such as would be indicted by an instrument like this dagger, which is the one that Corcoran had the night in question. The blood was fresh upon his shirt, and he thought to hide it under the bed. Edward Logon examined: was one of those who were in the house the night it was attacked. Five of then came in and five or six stayed outside. and the oilier men hid. 1 was looking down at the five men that came in, and I swear positively that Bartholomew Egan was not one of them. know him these fifteen or sixteen years. cannot swear whether the other men were there or not. Surgeon Battersby deposed deposed that the wound in Moore's back was such as would have been inflicted the dagger that Corcoran had that night. This closed the case on the part of the crown, and Mr. Gorman addressed the jury for the prisoners, all whom except Moore, were completely untouched by the evidence been given, it would be proved by trustworthy witnesses that Corcoran was wholly unworthy of credit on his oath, and was certain that upright and conscientious men would never find a verdict of guilty, subjecting men to transportation for life upon the uncorroborated evidence fellow like Corcoran, who was capable of any act of atrocity. Three respectable witnesses who were called up, deposed that Corcoran was unworthy of on credit his oath. Three others deposed that they were the persons whom he met, the road that night, that none of the prisoners were there at all. Several other witnesses proved an alibi for all the prisoners but Moore—and men of high respectability in neighbourhood gave them gave them all good character. The Chief Justice summed up, and the jury brought a verdict of guilty Roscommon and Leitrim Gazette, 12 March 1842.

341

Maureen Withey on 28th January 2022

https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON14-1-17$init=CON14-1-17P50 and https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON14-1-17$init=CON14-1-17P51 6791. James Moore, tried at Westmeath, 28 February 1842, 14 years, age 22, height 5ft 5 ¾, catholic, can read and write, single. Offence: Assaulting a habitation in Co. Westmeath, named Cooringans. Surgeon’s Report: Good. Trade, Shoemaker. Native place, Kings Co. Remarks: F, Michael; M, Mary, N.P. 5B, John, Lewis, Michael, Patrick, 2 S, Elizabeth, Mary. Certificate from home. -------------------------------------------------- Conduct Record: https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON33-1-28$init=CON33-1-28p133 7 Nov 1848, T.L. 1.4.1851, C.P. Appd.