An Irish Romance.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 177, 2 August 1888, Page 3

An Irish Romance.

A sensational and romantic case was re■lorted lately from Clandy, county Derry-District-Inspector M'Carthy charged Francis O’Connor with assaulting Mrs Sarah Keath. During the hearing of the trial it transpired that an alleged assault on Mrs Jane Keath arose out of the bringing away of Mrs Keath's niece (Miss Rose Anne Swann) to get married. Miss Swan and a young man called O'Hara had become engaged, but the uncle and aunt were opposed to the match. So determined weie the young lady’s friends to prevent the matoh that the penalty of death was threatened against O'Hara if he ventured near the residence of the girl. A letter to that effect waa re^d. in court. Mias Swann arranged by a letter to meet her lover, and he sent O’Connor and another friend to fetch her. Only the aunt waa at home, and the bold design was carried out notwithstanding Mrs Keath’s resistance. The aunt vigorously protested, and drew a revolver and fired after the abductors. Mr Franois O'Connor felt, it is alleged, the bullet graze his head. He was able to reach Dangiven in safety with Miss Swann, and there all fears were at rest when she and O’Hara were united in the bonds of wedlock. Miss Swann was a Protestant, while the man she wished to marry was a Boman Catholic, which was the cause of the violent opposition of her friends. Mr. J. E. Doherty, who appeared for O'Connor, said it was ridiculous to bring this affair up as a crime.. The crime, if any, was that the girl was going to marry a Catholic and that was the reason that the Swanns had the pistols loaded and ready.—The Bench unanimously agreed to dismiss the case.