QUEER CRIMES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 2, 9 May 1890, Page 11

QUEER CRIMES.

(From United Ireland.')

Every day we are increasing the catalogue of Coercion crimes. A •' wink," a " nod," an " illegal liugh," and a " humbugging sort of a smile," and many more of the same kind aie already on the list. " Drumming in a threatening manner " is the very latest addition to the en ilogue. Let anybody fiat doubts it listen I> an extract from the evilence of Sergeant II mbury at the trial of fifteen Nationalists the other daj at ftlonaghan, before Removables fcsoveidjn- Purse Town*end and O'Brien, for an i'leeal assprnbly : — "They played 'Harvey Duff,' ' Toe Peeler and the Goat,' and other airs. This imn," proceeded fie seigeaut, poin'in * to one of the defendants, " whose name, I underst in 1, is M'Mahon, is diummer to the Thiee-Mile-HotißG band. He turned round and drummed up close to me in a very threatening manner (laughter), He told Rankm 'bat the assembly was illegal and to disperse at once. He saw Father Farnan there. There was no attack made on the police or on any person, R >v. P. Farnan, Administrator, Kdmore, deposed that the Three-Mile-Houso band was there that day on his invitation. After deliberation the court concluded that the cases had been proved, and the following sentences were impos 'd : — M'Oarville, Fiulay, Maguire, M'Mahon, Kllis, M'Phithps, Creaikin, Deighan, Mohan, and Moorehead were ordered to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for five weeks ; Rankm, M'Oal", Callaghan, and Kieran to be imprisoned with hard labour for six wicks, A meeting to express sympithy with the defendants was held ai erwards m Corcagh-m Cbapel yard — Very Rev. Peter Farman, P.P., in the chair. Rev, William M'Kenna, Adm., Mona?han ; Rev. T.iomas Duff, C.C. ; Rev. Charles Qmnn, Adm, ; Dr. Counsel, and Dr. Teevan were amongst those present. A resolution was adopted expiessmg sympathy with the newly-made 'criminals,' and urging that eveiy practical effoit possible should be made on behalf of their families during their incaiceration."

Yet anotltr interesting deve'opmcnt of Coercion crime in Tipperary ! A young grocer's assistant named John Kelly (ominous name I) was sent to prison in default of bail by Removable Caddell and his colleague for "a threatening gestuie," which a policeman in plain clothes, named Dargan, with unconscious humour, described a^ " a twi->t of the little linger." We are not quite sure but Edwaid 111. may dispute the glory of this last exploit with the Coercion Act. Next we hear of a man named M'Gmley at Falcarragh sent to gaol by Removables Bourke and Bercsford, uuder Edward 111. for winking at a buycoited pisr. Surely the force of folly can no further go. This is the climax of coercion absurdity. It is hard to know whether to laugh or be angry at Coercon of tins kind. But we mubt bear in mind that ludicrous as are the charge and conviction, it means five or six weeks' impiisonmeat, as the case may be, wiih haid labour, for M'Mahon, "who drummed in a threatening manuei," and to all who aided or abetted him in that terrible crime. Jt is no laughing matter 'o those innocent men, swindled by a corrupt court out oi ttieir hbcit}.

To tho=c profound scientists who go around knocking their heads agaitibt dead walls, we would call attention to the words of the Wizard Edison, who, iv Harper's Monthly, says,"! think I could prove the existence of a Supreme Being fiom chemistry,"