CORONER’S CASEBOOK OF ROBERT HAMILTON REED (REID)

Continued from previous book and starting February 20, 1876.

pp 10-15

16-1182

Distance travelled 8 Miles

Fee ordered Surgeon YOUNG for post mortem ₤2.2.0

Held on view of the body of Pat Moore IRWIN 7 June 1876 in the infirmary of Monaghan Parish and Barony of Monaghan.

Pat IRWIN -- son to deceased. Disposed to the body now viewed by the jury being that of his deceased father.

Thomas BOGUE. Deposed deceased had built a load of hay and was preparing to tie it. I was loosing the reins for the course to use as a tether to tie the load with when the horse moved little causing deceased to lose his balance and fell to the ground. On this I and Joseph ROSS assisted him up. When ROSS asked him where he was hurt deceased said on his back at same time desiring water to be thrown on him which was done. He was then removed to a house and I then left them.

Joseph ROSS. Deposed that on 31 May last I weighed some hay to deceased and left Thomas BOAG to fork it to him. I left them to get deceased a rope to help to tie the hay. While so engaged heard myself called and on going to them found deceased lying on his back. On asking the cause he said the horse had moved a little causing him to fall. On inquiring where he was hurt he said his head, the shoulder and that he had no feeling in his arms and legs. I sprinkled some water on him and bathed his hands and got a little brandy and gave him some. After which he was made as easy as possible. Quickly I sent to Scotstown for the doctor who was soon in attendance. He examined deceased and ordered a mustard plaster to be applied to his back and at same time recommended his being sent to Monaghan infirmary and which was promptly done. He complained much of pain and could not bear to be touched.

A.K. YOUNG Surgeon. Disposed has made a post-mortem exam of body of deceased. There is a slight wound of deceased forehead but of small moment. The lower parts of the neck are separated from each other and which are the only injuries he has sustained and sufficient to cause death.

Verdict. Death of deceased Pat IRWIN on 6 June 1876 from falling accidentally off a cart causing injuries resulting in death.

17-1183

Distance travelled 12 Miles

Held on view of the body of Patrick GINLY. June 1876 in Ballinode. Parish of Tedavnet & Barony of Monaghan.

Ann GINLEY. Deposed was wife of deceased who on 7th and for days previous had wrought at his trade as blacksmith. On even of that day, in his usual health he went to bed but soon after fell asleep but waking up within a short time and wishing to rise he found he had not the power of his left arm or leg. He then lay in bed and falling asleep. But on waking up and feeling no better a messenger was sent into Monaghan for Dr. Woods who on ascertaining from deceased how he was affected ordered him a mustard poltice to remain on 13 minutes but ere that time was up he had ceased to live. The doctor told witnesses that his case was apoplexy.

Verdict. Death on Moran of 8 June 1876 from apoplexy.

18-1184

Distance travelled 15 Miles

To assist in burying deceased 2.0

Held on view of the body of Jane MACARTNEY 15 June 1876 in the townland of Drumanon, Parish of Curren, Barony of Dartry.

Mary McCORMICK. Deposed that on evening of 13 instance about six o'clock saw deceased sitting on the roadside resting herself stating that she was going down to Elsei MARTIN’s perhaps for some help as deceased was a poor old woman dependent on their kindness of her daily wants. Witness has not heard since alive.

Mary BURKE. Deposed that on Tuesday 13 instance saw deceased and was speaking to her about two or three o'clock at some time gave her a coal to light her fire and since has not seen her alive. Hearing on yesterday that deceased was dead from a neighbour who looked in of her window when passing. I went into her house and found her lying dead on the floor.

Verdict. Death on 13 June 1876 from old age and infirmity.

Inquiry 16^th ₤1.0.0

On this 24 June 1876 attended a Monaghan asylum to inquire into the death of Foster BREEN for upwards of four years at inmate of that establishment and age 26 years and the cause of his death was consumption with disease of the heart.

Inquiry 17^th ₤1.0.0

On this 29th day of June 1876, attended a Monaghan asylum to inquire into the death of Ellen CARR aged 27 years for 21 months and inmate of said establishment and whose death resulted from consumption.

19-1185

Distance travelled 15 miles

Fee to Dr. IRWIN ₤1.1.0

Held on view of the body of Mary CONNOLLY 3 July 1876 in the town land of Iterea [AKA Itereery], Parish of Tedavnet & Barony of Monaghan.

Elsie [?] FARMER. Deposed being with deceased attending to a cow which was calving and after the birth of the calf I helped deceased with the calf into the field. After which deceased and I sat down to rest ourselves. Shortly after deceased complained of a pain in her neck. On this I went over to her, when she fell over against me in consequence of which are all but carried her into the house. I then went for some neighbours who at once came to me. Deceased when got into the house could not speak. I then sent into Scotstown for Dr.IRWIN who promptly attended. Deceased's husband was not in the House when I brought her in nor any person.

Dr. IRWIN. Deposed that on Friday evening last was called in to see deceased who on my arrival I found in a state of unconsciousness and breathing very heavily. I consider she was labouring under an attack of apoplexy and which I consider to have been the cause of death.

Verdict. Yes on 1 July 1876 from an attack of apoplexy.

Inquiry No 1 ₤1.0.0

On this 31st day of July 1876, I attended a Monaghan asylum to inquire into the death of Bridget KELLY aged 56 years. And inmate of said asylum since 30 March 1875 and found that her death took place on the 28 instance after an illness of six months of exhaustion from mania.

1-1186

Distance travelled 12 miles

Held on view of the body of Sarah MAGUIRE 17 August 1876 in the townland of Bohill & Village of Killeevan in the Parish of Killeevan & Barony of Dartry.

Richard QUIGLY identified body of deceased Sarah MAGUIRE

Ann FAULS. Deposed lives with in ½ mile of deceased. Knew her. Saw her on first instance in our house. She was sobbing and lamenting on her hands a slight mark of blood. She said was caught with the scythe and since then I have not seen her, though previously often passing our house going to the Meadows. She made no complaint of being hurt or unwell. Have often seen her sobbing and crying. Twas commonly said that deceased and her brother John quarrelled. Never asked her why she sobbed and cried. Heard her and her brother voices on the first inst. when passing our house and from his voice being loud thought twas friendly. From not inquiring why she sobbed and cried was hearing she and John did not live agreeably. After leading our house, later in the evening I saw her passing our house with her brother’s dinner but did not see her returning.

Mary PRATT. Deposed. I knew deceased and saw her on the 10th instance in her own house and in bed and one of her nieces was present. Heard deceased “call for death”. I never inquired as to her health or what ailed her. Heard her say that she was murdered. But never asked her who murdered her. I am second cousin to deceased.

[?] MCQUADE. Knew deceased well and her brother. Their farms joined and their houses within 50 yards in each other. Recollects first instance saw deceased on that day in their meadow and also John. Very little of their grass of it then cut. I passed within 10 perches of them, heard no conversation between. Having to catch my course on my return heard deceased crying. Though her voice was like whining. On last Friday I asked John MAGUIRE how was his sister. When he replied very bad, I did not ask and what ails her. He said that on the first instance he and she were in the meadow when deceased said she was ill and going to faint. He told her to say no such thing. On this she laid herself down and slept. And when she awoke she complained of the same. This was about 12 o'clock. I was not in deceased house till the 15th instance, her brother John never said to me that I must keep him safe. This took place on the 11th instance and in allusion to the report of the county that I should have struck deceased. I heard that deceased had been my house evening of first instance having called in on her home going when her finger being tied up she told my wife that it was by a scythe her hand was cut it did not say how twas cut. The time that elapsed from my going down for the horse till my return was three to four minutes and to the best of my knowledge not more. On the 11th instance I heard conversation with John MAGUIRE respecting deceased's illness. I never ssaw John lift his hand to any one of his family.

Jane GRAHAM. Deposed was niece to deceased and lived three months in the same house. I this day saw her remains and identifies them as those of the deceased Sarah MAGUIRE. Recollects the first August when she said she was cold and shivering with a great weight of sleep I thought she would you not be able to go to the meadow as John wanted her opinion about some meadow to be cut but not to work. From the house to the meadow may be 1 mile. I often saw her in these Meadows before. Deceased had another niece in the house (Jane MAGUIRE) who is delicate. John when going to the meadow had a scythe and deceased had a rake with them, but did not bring it back. They left between 10 old clock to 11 o'clock. My aunt returned first, a little after two o'clock and on her return went to bed as was her usual custom. I observed blood on her hand which he said was cut by the scythe. After ½ one half hour she arose. And took her brother's dinner to him. When she arose next morn to complain of a pain in her breast. Heard her complained of being ill treated by her brother John on the first instance in the meadow. Never knew him to striker. Never knew of any arguments between my uncle and aunt. About last November saw him strike her with a little rod or switch. Heard deceased on her deathbed to say that Uncle John had murdered her and that it occurred on the first August in the meadow and a statement she made on the eight instance. I heard my sister Mary Jane tell my uncle John that the voice of the country said he had caused my aunt's death and this in the kitchen and which he did not bring me or my sister up to my aunt's bedside to give her an opportunity of contradicting it. This occurred on the 10th instance. On the ninth instance deceased went into Clones taken in a cart by uncle.

A jury to Wednesday 23 instance to be resumed in Kileevan.

Dr. Richard HENRY. Deposed. Made a post-mortem examination of body of deceased found decomposition had set in the face and neck greatly swollen and putrified. The tongue protruding. Externally, a slight incise wound on the middle finger of the right hand and a slight wound on the forefinger of the left hand. On opening the chest and abdomen found the back of the right lung in advance state of pneumonia and the pleura adherent. Also pneumonia in a portion of the left lung. The other viscera was healthy. The disease in the lungs was the cause of death.

Dr. Alexander HENRY. Deposed. Having made a postmortem of body of deceased (as follows see Dr. R HENRY’s above) the pneumonia might have commenced on or about the first August, and which a severe or hurt or wound would cause. But in this case there was no evidence of such having occurred in knock down and lying in a meadow for some time.[?] hour or two would probably lead to it. The swelling of the head and neck would arise from putrification. Deceased having died on the 13th and a postmortem having been made on the 17th exhibited a greater amount of putrification than I would have expected. The state of decomposition was such that I could not discover any evidence of bruises having occurred previous to death. Though such might have occurred without my being able to discover it; a person lying down say for an hour or two in damp grass would account for pneumonia.

Adjourned. Pending Mr. Hare FOSTERs recovery from severe illness at the instance of the Crown prosecutor Mr. DUDGEON, on the second September learned from Sergeant of Newbliss Police that on Monday 4th instance W.H. FOSTER would attend the inquest on this I wrote him, word I would attend on that day which I did. But on reaching there I found no one there to aid in the further prosecuting the inquiry. Neither on the part of the Jury, the Crown, the prisoner or a single witness. On this I saw Mr. FOSTER and arranged for Wednesday the 6th instance to meet and we hope to conclude the inquest and when returned called on the police and gave them words to that effect; Adjourned to 6 September 1876

6 September 1876. Attended at the usual place of holding this inquest on this day, but from the absence of Mr.DUDGEON who has the charge of it on behalf of the crown the case could not be proceded with and consequently was further adjourned till Wednesday the 20th instance

20 September 1876. On this day attended agreeable to adjournment. Mr. DUDGEON, Mr. Inspector Smith and the jury were in attendance, but Mr. FOSTER not having returned from the Shore and there being no further evidence to offer and the Jury being quite satisfied with the amount of evidence received consulted amongst themselves and expressed the opinion that deceased death arose from natural causes.

Verdict. Death on 13 August 1876 from natural causes.

Enquiry No 2 ₤1.0.0

On the 27th August I attended at Monaghan Asylum to choir into the death of Margaret GOLLOGLY age 34 years for upwards of six years an inmate of said asylum and his death resulted from epilepsy.

Enquiry No 3 ₤1.0.0

On this night September 18 706I attended at the asylum to inquire into the death of Benjamin SHARPE age 31 years for eight months an inmate of said establishment whose death resulted from Phthisis Pulmonalis.

Enquiry No 4 ₤1.0.0

On the 16th of September 1876 attended at Monaghan Asylum to inquire into the death of Thomas HUGHES aged 43 years for nearly 6 years an inmate of said establishment and whose death resulted from consumption of nine months duration.