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Archiver > IRL-LIMERICK > 2001-08 > 0999292488


From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: [LIMERICK] Connaught Journal; Feb 17, 1823
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 16:14:48 -0500


Connaught Journal
Galway, Ireland
Monday, Feb 17, 1823
Volume 69 Price 5 Pence


ATTACK ON THE WATERFORD AND LIMERICK MAIL COACH.-AND FORCIBLE ABDUCTION OF A
FEMALE
On Sunday last, about two o'clock, p.m. as this Coach was proceeding between
Tipperary and Limerick ,it was stopped at about eight miles from the former
place by a party of People, from twenty to thirty in number, seven or eight
of whom were armed. When they stopped, BUTTLE, the fuard, who was in his
place behind, discharged his pistol at one of them, who was armed, and who
held on of the wheel horses, by which he recieved a wound in the neck, or
near the ear, as he fell against the horse which he had hold of and the
blood was seen to flow from the wound by the coachman. Immediatley on BUTTLE
discharging his pistol, another of the party struck him with a stone, as the
Coachman believes, and knocked him off the Mail-boot, on which he was
standing at the time, and afterwards some of the party dragged him across
the road, and threw him against the ditch. The assailants then opened the
door of the Coach, and forcibly took out a young woman, who was an inside
passenger. Two of them took her away across the fields, while the rest
remained on the road, until the Coachman, DOYLE, came off the box and got
BUTTLE into the Coach, into which also he put the arms. They then permitted
the coachman to drive off, and he met no further interruption until he
reached Limerick. The young woman, we understand, was going to Limerick for
the purpose of being married. It is surprising, notwithstanding all the
examples which had been made from time to time for the prevention and
punishment of this offence, that they still hold out no terrors for such
guilty miscreants.

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