AN EVICTION CASE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 411, 25 February 1881, Page 19

AN EVICTION CASE.

(Abridged from the Cork Examiner.) An inqnest was held on Wednesday week in the courthouse, Castleisland, into the circumstances attending the death of John Horan, a boy of seven years, who died, it is alleged, from cruelty at the hands of Edmond Browne, senr , and Ertmind Browne, junr., who put out by force Mrs. Horan and her family on the 28th September. The greatest interest was manifested in the proceedings, the courthouse being densely crowded by anxious spectators. The first witness examined was Honora Horan. mother of the deceased, who resided at Addraville, near Scartaglen ; her son died on the 10th December ; he was sick about nine weeks ; she remembered the day Edmond Browne and his son came to her house and put her out by force ; the deceased was then in bed. and had the appearance of crying ; the Brownes put her out by force ; her child John got frightened, and after that day he used to rave through his sleep ; he was ill for four weeks before his death and took no food ; Dr. Harrold attended him. j Edmond Browne, junr., who tendered himself for examination, deposed — 1 recollect the day my father and myself put out Mrs Horan ; it was on Tuesday, the 28th September ; I helped my father in putting out Mrs. Horan ; we dragged her out of the bedroom, taking a hold of her by each arm ; we took her from the room, through the kitchen into the yard ; I heard Mrs. Horan complain of being squeezed by us while we were removing her ; as far as 1 could see she was not hurt ; I heard her scream, and when I did I let her go ; that was in the yard ; she took a stone to strike me ; I did not see my father do anything to hurt her ; my father was the legal owner of the house and place ; my father is tenant to Sir Maurice O'Connell, and we were advised by Daniel Moynahan the bailiff on the estate. Dr. Huph Brosnan, examined, deposed — I was called to see the deceased, being doing temporary duty for Dr. Harrold ; that was early in November, but I do not know the exact date ; on looking at the child I found him quite pale and apathetic, and considerably emaciated ; the child did not seem to mind my examining him ; I examined his chest and heart ; the action of the heart was quick but feeble ; there was no organic disease ; relying on what the mother told me — that the child had no appetite — I came to the concluclusion that the child got such a shock that he was not able to digest his food ; all what I saw of the child would have been produced by a shock ; in this case it was my opinion that there was a shock ; he heard the mother say the child was a healthy child till he was frightened. Cornor — Is there any other cause that would produce the same appearance ? Yes ; improper food might. Mr. O'Connor — Did the other children present a healthy appearance ? Yes. The jury, after three-quarters ot an hour's deliberation, found a verdict of manslaughter against Browne and his son, who were committed for trial to the assizes. The verdict was received with applause in court.