Stories from Old Newspapers


The Clashmore 'Wool Pluckers'

Waterford Mail 4 March 1858

'Anastasia Handlon and Margaret Curtin were indicted for stealing on the 21st of January, 21lbs weight of wool at Clashmore, the property of Major Dent. Mr George Q.C. stated the case, which was one of plucking wool off the sheep's backs from the effects of which the animals died. Michael Magrath - I know Major Charles Dent; I was his Shepherd in January last. On the morning of the 22nd I went out to look after the sheep, and saw ten of them were plucked...one of them died in a few days. In eight or nine days after I went to Dungarvan, and saw a quantity of wool with Constable Hearn, black, white and grey. I examined the wool and am able to say that is the wool that was taken from the sheep's backs'.

Patrick Healy, Mr Dent's steward corroborated Magrath's evidence. The court heard that the two women were assisted by John Curran, Thomas Cremin, John Hearty, Margaret Handlon and John Kirby. 

'Catherine Dee servant to Mrs Cremin at Abbeyside, proved that the prisoners sold 29lbs of wool to her at 6d a lb. Her mistress paid ten shillings at the time, and next day 4s and 6d. On hearing afterwards that the wool was stolen she gave it up to the police. Mr Triphook, Governor of the county jail, stated that the two women had five previous convictions and they were sentenced to 18 months.