Cork Examiner 15 October 1849
Letter to the Editor
Dear Sir,
On last Friday, five policemen came to my house, and
ransacked every corner for papers, but found none. They seized three guns and a
naval sword, which I had in that service some twenty years ago. One of the guns
was registered; the other two were left by a young friend who brought them for
his amusement. On returning to college, he said his brother would be with me in
a day or two, and it would not be worthwhile to remove them. The latter had a
shooting license and would bring the guns home…They are now forfeited, as well
as my own. Verily this is the level of freedom with a vengeance! T’would make
you smile to see old empty cannisters, powder-horns, without tops, and broken
moth eaten shot belts that hung on a rack for more than 20 years…They dragged
me to prison where I remained until Tuesday evening when I was admitted with
the greatest reluctance to bail-two sureties in £100 each, myself the same – I was accommodated in
which was a heap of straw, sewed up in the coarsest sack-cloth, and blankets
not too heavy.
Each day, I passed in a narrow yard with a precious
crew. On Saturday I was brought before the Justices, and placed in the dock,
asking myself, if the prisoners would change places with their Worships
(excepting one). I there stood charged with having unregistered arms; and to
prove my guilt, and shame me before the world (how shamed I felt) were my
iniquities emptied on the green cloth, in the shape of guns, old pistols…and
everything that could wage war against partridge and Peelers. All this ‘pomp
and circumstance’ was, of course, to vindicate the majesty of the law. There
were strict orders given that none should visit me in prison, but…I was told
bail would be taken. Two immediately stood forward; one of them as respectable
as any in Dungarvan was objected to by a J.P., who in reality was the less
respectable of the two. I was of course, puzzled to know why I was singled out.
At last the stipendiary let out that they suspected me for getting out John
O’Mahony (Fenian) last year. What think you of this?
John Kennedy, Cove Hill, Ballyvoile, Dungarvan, 11
October 1849
Dungarvan Jail Circa 1900