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TIPPERARY COUNTY. I
V"
Return to an Order of the Honourable The House of Commons, ' j\
dated 3 August 1838 ^—for, ' ''^•'^ '^' '•■'
.. * '* . A*
A COPY of the Correspondence which has recently taken place between' Her
Majesty's Government and the Magistrates of the County of Tipperary,
relative to the disturbed state of that Countv.
Dublin Castle, 9 August 1838. (True copy.) T. Druimnotid.
To his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant and Governor-general of Ireland, &c. &c. &c.
Cashel, 7 April 1838.
, We, the undersigned magistrates of the county of Tipperary, this day assembled at Cashel,
at a very short notice, beg leave respectfully to state to your Excellency, that it is with feelings
of the deepest horror we communicate to your Excellency the dreadful and atrocious attack
made by some villains upon the lives of Samuel Cooper, Esq., j. p., Austin Cooper, Esq.
and Francis Wayland, Esq., on the 6th day of April.
It appears that these gentlemen were proceeding to the fair of Tipperary on that day, the
two Mr. Coopers in a gig, and Mr. Wayland on horseback, when they were fired upon by
four men ; Mr. Samuel Cooper and Mr. Wayland returned the fire, but it is horrifying to
relate that Mr. Austin Cooper was shot dead by a ball passing through his head, and Mr.
Wayland was severely wounded in the hip.
There are circumstances connected with these horrible facts illustrative of the state of
society iu this county, which we, the undersigned, deem it our duty to represent to your
Excellency.
It appears that it was known for some time previous to this attack, that it was the
intention of the miscreants of the country to assassinate these two gentlemen; that a com¬
mittee of villains had met and determined on the death of Mr. Austin Cooper; that his
friends had warned him repeatedly of his danger ; yet, notwithstanding the precautions he
took, he was unable to avoid the fate to which he had been doomed. Mr. Wayland's
house was attacked a few days previous with the intention of shooting him.
Comment upon these events we feel to be unn&essary. We beg leave to state to your
Excellency, that the large additional force of police and military ordered into these districts,
in consequence of the memorial addressed to your Excellency by the magistrates assembled
at Tipperary last November, has not been productive of those effects which your Excellency
then calculated upon.
This scene of slaughter occurred in the barony of Kilnemanagh, on the borders of the
barony of Clanwilliam. The magistrates at that meeting declared that neither life nor
property was safe in that part of the country. We, the undersigned, declare, that in that
district neither life or property is safe; we therefore respectfully trust that your Excellency
will put iu force the strongest powers which the laws of the land permit in those districts.
We consider it our duty to state to your Excellency, that we believe the result of the late
assizes for this county has proved how terrible is the state of intimidation which exists, or
seems to exist, among the juries of this county, an effect which the Crown can at all times
prevent by again resorting to the old and wholesome practice of challenging, which, pro¬
perly acted on, would be productive of the best effects.
We beg leaye respectfully to hope that Her Majesty's Government will bring in a Bill to
Parliament for the purpose of inflicting a heavier penalty than that now in force on persons
for having unregistered arms or ammunition in their possession. We also recommend that
licenses granted for keeping arms be renewed annually, and that additional powers for
searching for arms be given to magistrates.
(signed) Glengall, Chairman. John Langley.
Lismore, except the resolution William Pennefather.
referring to the renewing of Robert Clark,
the (illegible.) Matthew Pennefather.
John J. Fitzgerald, Bart. Sam^ Phillips.
Thomas Cavendish. Richard Long.
W. Booker. S. Moore.
W"! Barton. John Sankey.
John Bagwell- Stephen O Meagher.
Lau'^® Creaghe. Godfrey Taylor.
Joseph Cooke. James Roe.
William Perry. Richd Sadlier.
l^ich^ Herbert. W. Armstrong.
Charles Clark. Edwm Taylon
Saml Wm Barton. Nicholas B. Green.
Willâ„¢ Quin. Benjamm N. White.
Wn> Purefoy. John Chaytor.
735-
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