Urker, January 19th 1891

My Dear Andy [1]
        There has been a new instance of "Loves labours lost" in Cavananore; and the pity is that James Gillmer [2] and the other worthies [3] who so generously gave their neighbour's property to Sam Bradford [4] did not live to see it. The case which I mistakenly wrote to you was to be tried on this day week was tried last Thursday [5] before Judge Monroe and the result was that Sam's [6] judicial lease was broken and the Receiver under the Court ordered to take possession of our part of Cavananore [7] next day. Accordingly, he came there on Friday accompanied by Bailiffs and evicted Mrs. McCoy*, Thomas Murray*, and an old woman who lives in one of the houses; allowing them to go in again as caretakers and giving each a penny a week. So you see that other people beside Alexander Dickie [8] can play at penny a week; and my poor innocent Sam is done with that part of Cavananore. The people who took the land in conacre [9] were in a state of desperation; they had given Sam securities for payment, and now will not get the lands. Kelly of Bally[binvie]** gave them great comfort; he said "Devil [mend] them, and that the Jacksons were always civil and decent people; & that nobody should have joined in a plan to rob them." Sam was allowed a certain time to remove his cattle & the judicial lease which he thought a great benefit was just what settled him; for he was not restrained from subletting by the lease he got from Messrs McCullagh [10] and Gillmer. Sam is due a year's rent to the Trustees, & a year's head rent last Novr. These rents must be paid before the farm can be disposed of; but the Bank of Ireland is a very good stake for payment. What the Courts will do with the land now that they have got possession, remains to be seen. There is a great difficulty in this case. A large part of the land is ploughed, and so left useless for grazing; and they cannot let it for conacre; that would be the same thing that Sam was condemned for. They must do something soon; as nothing will be made of it this year. Sam made awful swearing, but was not believed; he swore that the land was in as good condition as when he got it, & that his steward had cut the hedges unknown to him, and plenty more. The Lord grant him repentance. Our poor Peter has come to grief; he was tried in Armagh last Monday [11] for stealing a calf in the Novr. fair. He was convicted, & sentenced to 4 months imprisonment & hard labour. I am very sorry for him, but I fear there is no doubt of his guilt; and I would be at a great loss, only Eliezer [12] hired another boy for us, lest what has happened should take place. I was anxious to hear how Emily [13] is; she was far from well when I heard last. You should never be long without writing to me, and I would have written sooner only I wished to be able to tell you the result of this Cavananore affair which I only heard yesterday. I have not heard whether the scholars have returned to Miss Parks [14] . Eliezer has been ill with cold but is better. Thompson [15] has been ill also and some more of the family. Dear Tom [16] is to sail for home on the 5th of February. May God bring him safe and bless him. With love and blessing to you all