THREATENING LETTERS IN IRELAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 233, 19 October 1877, Page 3

THREATENING LETTERS IN IRELAND.

The Belfast Morning A r ews, in a most interesting article published a couple of years ago, gave some curious particulars as to threatening letters in Fermanagh. We quote the f ollowing extract : — " The public at large are acquainted with the Fenian proceeding! of Head Constable Taibot. There may be difference of opinion as to those proceedings, though we think there are not many who would like to play Talbot's part. But there is an episode in the life of that eminent spy that is not half so well known as his Fenian performances ; but that is right well known to us, and we may as well tell. It is how Talbot treated D'Arcy Irvine, Esq., of Castle Irvine, in tha County of Fermanagh. Mr. Irvine was a good, kindly man, with more than average intellectual ability, and more than average accomplishments. But he had strong feelings, and a somewhat wild imagination. He wrote many things in condemnation of the Government, and wrote them in the strange, strong way that attracted attention. Well, be was persuaded to believe that his life was in danger from the Fenians, and to employ Talbot at 30s. per week, to be a sort of game-keeper and body-guard. After Talbot (who had then finished his notorious Fenian affairs), came to Castle Irvine, Mr. D'Arcy Irvine was continually receiving threatening letters. He was continually telling us about them, and we often asked him if he had the envelopes. No : it happened somehow that he had none of the envelopes ; and it happened also that the letters themselves (this is our belief) generally disappeared after doing the work of annoying the recipient. Mr. D'Arcy Irvine introduced us one time to his protector, Mr Talbot, a iinc-looking fellow, but we declined his acquaintance, and warned Mr Irvine against him. He did not attend to the warning, and he was driven mad, we believe, by Talbot, the Government spy. He had to be arrested as a dangerous lunatic ; and he soon died in the strange confinement. A gentleman of Fermanagh, who had a peculiar right to feel interested in the matter, remarked to us some time after — ♦ If that honest fellow in Dublin had not shot Talbot, I'd have gone nj» and done it myself.' No one in Fermanagh, who understands any*' thing of the circumstances, doubts that Talbot maddened, Mr -DUArcj! Irvine, WkcKaciteO, Xaibot to that course of. conduct ?n v