CATTLE-RAIDING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 18, 16 October 1907, Page 10

CATTLE-RAIDING.

ARR'i'sr.QF mrTfarrell,

English files bring particulars ; of tho arrest, in County Longford, Ireland, of Mr. J. P. •Farrolly MtPv;" and' fifteen other* meiTcliafgecl with unlawful assembly and disturbance in connection, with a cattlo-driving raid which occurredv.in tho county on Sunday, August 18. ...Tho majority of tho mon belong to tho farmjiig'class, niid they wero conveyed, undor 'strong-'escort''to the town of Longford, wh.erc held to'tako the evidonce ofwitfeesses'-for'the prosecution. rl.iThe-'nrrosts.i'camo as a surprise.to the great j'najqrityybf.'.pcp'p'lo of all' classes in Ireland, ■unci- ijb i asVa]lcgf!cl':that this is but.the begin r Oiijfig,"qp.i , \yigp\ : pus.'effort' which -the Gbvern-■'.moivt-is)iibgiit to';ninke to'stamp out cattle■.raidhig;'beforo".;tTfe^w [ inter sots in. Started 's.orflp-'niqntK'siagaiivone.. of tho westorn coun-cattlo-raiding has Spread'to-■alH.-the surrounding counties in that province, and of late the agitation has been taken up in some portions of the King's County and Longford. The agitation Ilins for its. object'tho splitting'up lands Jet' ou the elevon' months "systoir amongst tho smaller tenants, and in most ol the,districts in which it has established itsel! it has been accompanied by nightly raids or the cattle of tho graziers. Several prosecu tions havo: been instituted,'but iii the gi'eai majority of cases tho persons charged,, es caped punishment. ; ' ■• ' ' <■• • ■

Tliq step, taken -by the government istho ieginriing, it is believed, of a new era. Their !arncstness'is •shbwtt .-:by'.'the' proclamation ssucd in tliq "Dublin Gazette , ', by, the Lqrd[jieutenanf in' Council under'tbo Constabulary. Act; which, authorises .His Kxcellene.y-to .leolarc a county or district in a state of dis-hn-banco and requiring an additional , establishment of police beyond that.allotted to.the county in" time of peace. The proclamation lias no relation to the Criminal .Law andProcethire Act, and simply allows the LordLieutenant to throw'into a , disturbed coutity or district as many extra men, as he considers necessary to preserve the peace. Mr. Farrell and the other defendants wore charged at Longford before Mr. Kilkelly, Resident Magistrate, that j they assembled with divers other.oyftjdispo'sod; persons armed 'with'sticks and other weapons.to make a riot and disturbance. •:•

Mr. Far'rbll protested against the jurisdiction'of the Court, and said the caso should have been takon before the Magistrates of .Yowtown. Forbes, Jn the district where the alleged' offence , was --.'Committed. He maintained that tho present Court was a Star Chamber, with a prearranged decision to return all for trial.

The objection . was . overruled, and Mr. : Farroll said that'if. the timo' permitted a ■writ of. prohibition-would bo obtained in tho High Court' and 'other .'proceediiigS'Would be itaken. '(Cheers). ■»'•' ■■ .>>■■'■:■

The police gave evidence that they saw tho accused driving cattle. They assaulted the police and pheerod.''■■• Mr. ' Farrell,' it was stated, directed all with! his'-'umbrella, especially the attack on the police. ' PoliceSergeant L'atimor deposed that ho was held by four men and beaten with sticks. HeadConstable: Vanghan said]', there .wore: 300 men armed-with sticks, at. Ranch directed 'by Mr'.' Farrell. '''A. ■baton'" charge failed. . ■ ...■•■

VAt the- conclusion, of Head-Constable Vaughan's evidence tho depositions which.had l)oen taken were read. ; py.er, ? ,,and -Mi;. Kilkenny returned all the defendants for, trii\l. to the next Assizes for the county. They were admitted..to bail. Tho Magistrate then proceeded to hear a similar charge against Mr. C.^Vt.P., Gqgan,. v Snited, a ,lrlsh League organiser, ''•