Anne Rooney

221

D Wong on 30th November 2020

Clonmel Herald Tipperary, Republic of Ireland 30 Mar 1836 THE CLONMEL HERALD (From the Special Reporter of the Freeman's Journal.) Baron Smith tat eleven o'clock on Monday. GROSS PERJURY—CROWN PROSECUTION. Anne Rooney, a plump country girl, was indicted for wilful and corrupt perjury, contained in voluntary informations sworn by her before W. Moloney, Esq., J.P. on the 26th of August, 1835, touching the death of the Rev. Mr. Walshe. When the prisoner was arraigned, and asked whether she was guilty or not guilty, she said, "I don't know what to say __ what will I Say?" She then pleaded not guilty. The jury was then sworn. (Long legal jargon)... W. Molony, Esq., sworn___I am a magistrate of Carlow county ; I have seen the prisoner before ; on the 22d of August she came before me at Bagnalstown and I examined her on oath ; I hold her information in my hand I took them from her own words, and read them over to her and she signed the whole. [Witness here read the informations.] They were to the effect that she hired herself as b inder to one Auley, near Kilgraney-bridge, about a week before the murder, she saw Sly. Styles, and Wynne, come into Auley's house, and heard Sly whisper to Styles, that he should go down to the bridge, and wait till he heard the priest coming, and then whistle ; she state also, that herself, the wife of Auley, and her daughter Kitty, went down the field ; that they hid themselves behind bushes for half an hour ; that they they heard the priest riding up slowly and whistling ; that the three ment came up ; that Sly seized the reins and head of the priest's horse, and said "we want you ;" that the priest said___"if you want money or drink I'll give it to you, boys ;" but that they said, "no we want you ; it's often you dragged us through your teeth, and now we'll drag you ;" that they then pulled hem off his horse, and that he begged of them to give him two minutes to pray, and to stand off from him, this they refused, and then murdered him, striking him with a hammer, jumping upon him, &C. That when they had murdered him, they went away ; that they then came back to see if he was dead and that they (the party of female before-mentioned) remained through fear, under the bushes, until dal light lest they should meet any of the murderers. The women, Howley and her daughter, were called up and deposed that they never saw Anne Rooney in their life before................... Baron Smith charged the jury, and without quitting the box, they returned a verdict of guilty. His Lordship then proceeded to pass sentence upon the prisoner. [Long summation] The sentence of the court is that you, Anne Rooney, be imprisoned for two months, and that then you be transported for seven years. Throughout the trial, the prisoner was muttering to herself, and showed the utmost disregard for what was going on. When the sentence of transportation for 7 years was passed, she said, "I am sorry it is not for life."

221

D Wong on 30th November 2020

Anne Rooney was listed as 19 years old on arrival. Native Place: Dublin. Anne was illiterate, RC, single, 5'1" tall, ruddy complexion, dark brown hair, hazel eyes, small mole under right eye, small pock pit right cheek, small mole lower part of right side of neck. 29/8/1837: Permission to marry Henry Cooke (Lady Faversham 1830) Henry was 30 and free - Ann was 19 and on Bond. 23/8/1837: Married at St. Patrick's, Parramatta, NSW. Children: 01 (F): Mary Ann COOK Born: c. 1837 in Sydney NSW AUS 02 (F): Eliza COOK Born: 11 MAR 1839 in Sydney NSW AUS 3 Died: 05 OCT 1906 in Tamworth NSW AUS 4 Spouses: John SPINKS 03 (M): William Henry COOK Born: 07 JUL 1840 in Manilla NSW AUS 5 Died: 27 SEP 1926 in Campsie NSW Spouses: Adelaide RIGELSFORD 04 (M): John COOK Born: 1842 in Muswellbrook NSW Died: 07 APR 1893 in Calala NSW AUS Spouses: Mary HARPER 05 (M): Richard COOK Born: 07 JAN 1844 in Maitland NSW AUS 6 Died: 18 FEB 1864 in Tamworth NSW AUS Spouses: 06 (M): George COOK Born: 28 SEP 1845 in Singleton NSW AUS 7 Died: 02 MAR 1907 in Coolah NSW AUS Spouses: Susan MILLER 07 (M): Samuel COOK Born: 31 JAN 1849 in Scone NSW AUS Died: 22 MAR 1932 in Tamworth NSW AUS Spouses: Sarah Jane HARPER 08 (M): Thomas COOK Born: 17 MAR 1851 in Singleton NSW AUS 8 Died: 09 SEP 1894 in Attunga Creek NSW AUS Spouses: Sarah BRAN 09 (F): Ann COOK Born: 30 APR 1853 in Warialda NSW AUS 9 Died: 01 FEB 1892 in Attunga NSW AUS Spouses: Thomas BUTLER 10 (M): Frederick COOK Born: 01 MAY 1853 in Warialda NSW AUS 10 Died: 21 JUL 1938 in Manilla NSW AUS Spouses: Agnes ABRA 11 (F): Caroline Amelia COOK Born: 15 OCT 1858 in Woolomol NSW AUS 11 Died: Spouses: Samuel MILLERD 1/8/1887: Anne died at Goonoo Goonoo, NSW. Henry Cooke died 15/10/1890 at Goonoo Goonoo, NSW.