Waterford
Mail 14 May 1836
Letter to
the editor from James Cremin, Dungarvan, 12 May 1836.
Sir, some
days since I went, accompanied by a bailiff, to distrain for an arrear of rent
amounting to £13.7.2., due out of a house in New
Lane, Dungarvan – the occupant of which having got intimation of my intention,
removed every article of value except some ducks, geese, a cock, and two hens,
which I seized and left in the custody of the bailiff, and went for assistance
to remove them. During my absence the bailiff…seized a cat, which he put in a
basket along with the fowl; this caused a great deal of noise. By this time a
large mob had collected, in which the women and children were not the least
prominent, and succeeded in rescuing the ducks, geese, and hens, abusing not
only myself in the grossest manner, but also the mother of my children and
followed me to the pound in the same manner, where I placed the cock in order
to set an example and carry the law into effect. I also sold it in due time,
when it brought 4d, and not 3½ as you have it.