THE IRISH AGITATION. SERIOUS OUTRAGES.

Evening Post, Volume XIX, Issue 14, 17 January 1880, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE IRISH AGITATION. SERIOUS OUTRAGES.

We learn from the Home News that a large number of notices of eviction had been served on Irish tenants in consequence of the Michaelmas rent not having been paid. On the other hand, the Marquis of Londonderry and other landlords, had unsolicited, reduced the rents of their properties 10 to 20 per cent. The Dublin Evening Mail announces that the Government intended, bo as to institute relief works, to carry out several recommendations made by Mr. Bateman, C.E., in 1863, with reference to the means of preventing injury by flooding to lands adjoining the Shannon, and generally for improving navigation. The other night Thomas Flagherty, a farmer, residing at Monasterredan, near Ballaghadereen, was dragged out of his bed by a party of twenty men, who had their faces disguised. Having blindfolded him, they took him about fifty yards from his house, cut off a piece of his ear, and beat him unmercifully with a piece of bush. They took away his gun and left. He alleges that the cause of this outrage is that he paid Ms rent before the time. His landlord is Mr. Macdermott, Q.C. Colonel Sargent, commanding the brigade depot at Birr, or Parsonstown, received information a few days ago, that an attack on the barrack was contemplated. The information was given in two letters to the Colonel professing to detail the method of the intended attack, and the design of blowing up the magazine. Colonel Sargent lost no time in preparing for a possible emergency, and all the men in barracks are doing double night duty. It is stated that the Government have received information of a project, in which a number of Irish-American Fenian agents are the principal movers, to organise a rising in Ireland, and that several attempts to acquire information respecting arms and ammunition have been made known to' the authorities. In view of these circumstances the Government have arrived at a firm determination to put forth all lawful efforts to keep the agitation within limits. Several further outrages, the natural fruits of the rent agitation, are reported. A few days ago two strange men entered the house of a farmer, who holds under Lord Longford between 80 and 100 acres, and, presenting a revolver at his wife, desired her to tell him on his return home that if he dared to pay his rent then due he might abide the consequences. On retiring they fired a shot, and then proceeded to the house of another tenant, where they delivered a similar menace. Three men were committed by the magistrates for trial at the assizes, on the charge of being a party of masked men who broke into the house of a farmer, dragged him out of bed, and, putting a pistol to his breast, commanded him to ask the tenants' pardon, as he had paid his s rent. They told him they were from Sligo, and did not care for the police. Some sheep on the property of Sirß. Lynch-Blosse, of Balla, have been injured. A few nights ago, in consequence of a tenant having paid .xent as . Sir Robert made no_abatement, the. sheriff's bailiffs, who had seized some oats, farming stock, and furniture at Askeaton under decree, were attacked by a party of seven men on the road and savagely beaten. One escaped from them and informed the constabulary, the other waa left on the road unconeoions, and on recovering consciousness made his way to Askeaton, but is now in the hospital in a precarious state. Neither could identify their assailants.