Tag Archives: King’s Co. Chronicle

Flax Improvement Society and the End of the Ballinasloe Show, 1845

Meeting of the Flax Improvement Society
Pursuant to public notice, a meeting of the Flax Improvement Society of Ireland was held today in the court house at one o’clock. Nearly all the nobility and gentry in the town were present. The Earl of Erne took the chair.


His lordship called upon the secretary to read the report of the society’s proceedings for the last year, and observed, that there were two or three gentlemen present who would be happy to answer any questions asked them regarding the cultivation of flax.

Mr. Wardham then read the report, which was regarded as most satisfactory.

Mr. Walker from the co. Donegal, who cultivates annually fifty to seventy acres of flax, came forward at the request of the noble chairman to state the result of hi practice. He said that after many years experience he found that there was a clear profit of at least £20 per acre upon an average crop, after the payment of all expenses, from five and a half packs of seed. His rotation of crops was potatoes, wheat, flax and clover. It was a crop which gave more employment to the poor than any other, and at a season when the country people were not otherwise engaged, and it was by no means an exhausting one unless to itself. His opinion therefore was that it should not be sown a second time in the same land for a period of seven years, and when cut, it should be, if possible, laid on new cut meadow land. As regarded seed, he considered that it was best when taken before the flax was perfectly ripe, and its being allowed to ripen did not at all injure the fibre (applause)

Some very interesting conversation then took place respecting the merits of home and foreign flax for seed. The prevailing opinion appeared to be in favour of the native article. Several cultivators, from different parts of the country, stated it to be so from their experience, and observed that it was almost always the successful seed when offered for competition with foreign seeds at local shows.

Ballinasloe, Friday
The proceedings of the show closed last evening, or more properly speaking this moring, with the usual ball, and a more splendid affair, both as regards numbers and respectability, never took place in any provincial town in Ireland, or, perhaps I might say, even in the metropolis. The evening was most unpropitious. No less than five hundred persons promenaded the rooms, one fourth of whom, at least, were members of the aristocratic families in town.
The King’s Co. Chronicle
Vol. 1 No. 3
Wednesday, Oct 6th, 1845

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Atrocious Murder, Clonfert, Co. Galway, 1845

A most atrocious murder was perpetrated at Clonfert, County Galway, within 9 miles of Ballinasloe on Wednesday night. The name of the unfortunate deceased was Thomas Lenney, steward to the Rev. Mr.Butson, rector of Clonfert. The circumstances are as follows : – Some short time back Mr. Butson discharged a steward of his of the name of Coates, and engaged deceased as his successor. In the interval between that and the murder, Mr. Butson received several threatening letters to dismiss Lenney from his situation, or the worst consequences would follow. The notice taken of these threats was about ten days since the father of Coates, the former steward, a man in rather comfortable circumstances, was apprehended and committed to Galway Gaol as being concerned in the sending of the notices in question.  Matters remained so until Tuesday last ; on that day the agricultural show was attended by Lenney.  He returned to his employer’s house in the evening and there took his dinner and tea as usual.  I should have stated that on the previous night (Monday) another notice was found in Mr. Butson’s hall, threatening that if Lenney was not discharged from his place within a given time he would certainly be shot. Deceased left the house at ten o’clock to proceed to his sleeping apartment in the farm yard, situate a very short distance from the dwelling-house ; but he had scarcely reached mid-way to it when he fell by the hand of the assassin.  In passing through a gate way he was fired at, and with so sure an aim that the ball passed right through his heart, and death must have been instantaneous.


The shot was heard in the stable yard, but it appeared that no immediate attention was paid to the circumstance. In about twenty minutes however, after the fatal occurrence, the lifeless body was discovered extended in the gateway. On Wednesday an inquest was held. The result of the investigation was the finding of a verdict of willful murder against some parties unknown. Three persons have since been arrested on suspicion. They are Christopher Coates, coachman to Mr. Butson, John Coates also in Mr. Butson’s employment as an agricultural servant; both are brother’s of the dismissed steward. The name of the third person is Joseph Bergin, groom to the reverend gentleman. The prisoners were brought into Ballinasloe on Thursday, guarded by a strong police force, and lodged in the bridewell for further examination – ‘Correspondent of the Freeman’

The correspondent of ‘Saunders’ in giving the above details states that the Rev. Mr. Butson and family are in a state of the most frightful alarm, and were obliged to apply for the protection of the constabulary, two of whom are now stopping at the house.
The King’s Co. Chronicle
Vol. 1 No. 3
Wednesday, Oct 6th, 1845

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New Steam Ship Company, Bantry, Co. Cork, 1845

We understand that a company whose capital will be £50,000 has been formed to build an efficient class of steamship to ply regularly between Bantry, Halifax and New York as a first step towards making Bantry a packet station and naval depot. In aid of the project the lord of the soil has been granted to the company a site for wharfs, quays, stores, offices &c., at a nominal rent. It is proposed to form the voyage from Bantry to Halifax in seven days. – “Cork Constitution”


The King’s Co. Chronicle
Vol. 1 No. 3
Wednesday, Oct 6th, 1845

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Dublin Metropolitan Police: Removal of Superintendent O’Connor

The Commissioners of the Dublin Metropolitan Police have deemed it necessary to visit their displeasure a serious violation of police duty committed by Mr.Superintendent O’Connor, in having caused a suspected thief to be brought, on Saturday evening, the 27th ult., from the office of the G division to South Great George’s Street, and thence to Chancery lane station house, with a label around his hat, on which the words “Thief” and “Swell Mob” were written.


The orders to the police are to protect every person in custody from insult or injury in every possible way. Mr. Superintendent O’Connor is removed from his division and his rank, but with the option of accepting an inspectorship in another division, or retiring from the service. The commissioners we are informed, accompany this order with the remark, that but for Mr. O’Connor’s past services, performed with a zeal, integrity and intelligence, which entitled him to much consideration, as well as certain extenuating circumstances in the case, he would have been removed altogether from the force. Mr. O’Connor has been instrumental in banishing more thieves out of Dublin than all his colleagues collectively. Mr. Augustus Guy, inspector of the B division is appointed superintendent of the division in the room of Mr. O’Connor, the office of the branch of the force to be in College street.
The King’s Co. Chronicle
Vol. 1 No. 3
Wednesday, Oct 6th, 1845

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Dreadful Faction Fight, Co. Laois

On Sunday last, a faction fight on an extensive scale took place in Clonbrock, Queen’s Co., which happily did not terminate in any serious result owing to the timely interference of the Newtown constabulary.  It appears that two parties of colliers for some time had entertained bad feeling towards each other, arising from personal motives or jealousy, and in accordance with the custom of former days, they mutually agreed to try the issue by a regular engagement.


The leaders, on both sides having marshaled their respective followers on Sunday they met at Clonbrock. In numbers varying from two to three hundred men armed with sticks, when a regular battle ensued and continued without intermission until the arrival of the constabulary, who promptly interfered and arrested the leader, a man named Hackett, who rivals “Sullivan the Ranter” in faction fight celebrity. The promptitude and decision of the police, with the assistance of the Rev. Mr. Kelly, P.P., put an end to this novel engagement but not until both parties sustained several injuries in the conflict.

Twenty three of the combatants were summoned to Ballickmoyler Petty Sessions on Wednesday, when the bench ordered informations against the principals – ‘Carlow Sentinel’
The King’s Co. Chronicle
Vol. 1 No. 3
Wednesday, Oct 6th, 1845

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Fifty-Five Stone Pig by The King’s Co. Chronicle

Mr. Fleming of Church-lane, Mountmellick (Queen’s Co.,/Laois) has a hog pig, only 18 months old, which according to the best judges weighs fifty-stone. He has refused fourteen pounds (££) for it ; and unlike most overgrown animals it is perfect in shape and very active. Some idea may be formed of its size when few men can extend their arms , so as to touch the snout and root of the tail at the same time.
The King’s Co. Chronicle
Vol. 1 No. 3
Wednesday, Oct 6th, 1845


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Accidents and Loss of Life, Co. Laois and Co. Kildare, 1845

Accident and Loss of Life
We regret to say that a young man accidentally lost his life on the Railway works at Sallins, Co. Kildare on Wednesday evening last. He had recently come from England and had only been engaged that day by the company. His name was John Ray. While engaged with others, in the act of pushing along some Trucks, he was caught between two of them and killed on the spot. An inquest was held next day, on the body, by Thomas Harrisson, Esq. Mr. Currin, of Naas examined the body from who testimony it appeared the spine of the deceased had been broken, and other serious injuries inflicted. Verdict – accidental death.


Another Accident
On the afternoon of yesterday a man was nearly crushed to death working on the railroad near Kildare. He was immediately taken to the infirmary and is not expected to recover.

Another Accident
On yesterday (Friday) evening, a man named Coyle was engaged in taking down some houses in the town of Maryborough for the construction of the new line of road to Abbeyleix when a portion of a wall fell upon him, mangling his body and breaking his limbs in a frightful manner. He was immediately removed to the Infirmary, but from the extensive nature of the injuries he received it was thought impossible he could survive.

Taken from “The King’s Co. Chronicle” newspaper
Vol. 1 No. 3
Wednesday, Oct 6th, 1845

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