Thomas Morrissy

341

Maureen Withey on 24th March 2022

Source: Irish Convict Database by Peter Mayberry. Thomas Morrissy, alias Morrissey, age on arrival, 25, per Blenheim I (3), 1839, Tried 1839 at Tipperary, 7 years, for Assault. DOB, 1814, native place, Tipperary Co., Single, brother Patrick Morrissy arrived per same ship. Catholic. Labourer. Remarks: CF 46/365. ---------------------------------------------------- AGGRAVATED ASSAULT. Patrick Morrissy and Thomas Morrisay, both comfortable farmers, were indicted for malicious assault upon William Delany and John Power. William being examined, deposed that he lived at Spring House, where kept the mill; the prisoners lived on the adjoining ground, and there was a fight between them and witness over the subject of the mill-dam ; the 12th of September, 1837, the prisoners came level the mill-dam, and witness summoned them to the court, which referred the matters in dispute to the landlord; before, however, he could be consulted, the Morrissy’s came again to destroy the dam, and Thomas Morrissy had a sharp reaping-hook in his hands; when witness went and remonstrated with the men, Thomas Morrissy drew the hook and hit him upon the head; the hat was cut entirely through with the blow; a second offer was made, and witness held its hands, through which the hook was drawn; John Power tried to prevent him, and man named Hickey, a workman of the prisoners’, and who since was transported for his share in the transaction, gave Power a blow of spade from behind, which knocked him into the water; Pat Thomas upon the top of him the water, and they struggled together: Pat Morrissy called upon his brother Morrissy come back and cut the head off Power with the hook, he did so, cut the man in every place could, Power was most severely cut, and he lost the use of his left breast, and of one hand; the party ran away on alarm being given that some workmen of Mr. Jones’s were coming evidence fully corroborated Delany brother and by John Power; the latter of whom showed the violence of the treatment which he had received; one hand was quite useless, and the four fingers of the right hand were cut through. Two witnesses were examined for the defence, show that there had been a general fight, and that the Delanys had pitchforks. The prisoners were found guilty, and sentenced seven years’ transportation. Saunders News-Letter, 13 March 1839.