Fenian Outrages in Ireland.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 17, 9 March 1870, Page 3

Fenian Outrages in Ireland.

On December 14, four men entered the shop of Mr Dowling, gunsmith, of Dublin. One presented a revolvei at tin apprentice behind the counter, saying that if lie made an alarm he would be shot; another placed a shutter across the door leading to the dwelling-house. The two shop-hoys called out, and Mr Dowling, who was at breakfast, came down-stairs, and, stumbling over the shutter, asked what all the noise was about! One of the party levelled his revolver and tired, saying, " That's it." Mr Dowiing was not hurt. Finding the alarm given, the men went away. At the door one of them fired again, but without effect. The fourth man had a carpet-bag. They escaped by Eustace-street, giving a cheer. I —ln half an hour afterwards the shop of Mr Parkinson, gunsmith, Arranquay, was entered by four men, apparently the same persons, and a similar scene occurred. The porter, who left the shop to raise an alarm, was tired at, but missed. Mr Parkinson, hearing the noise, came down, and he was tired at without eifect. He went into the hall for assistance and the party escaped, three of them getting into a cab waiting for them in the lane. The police were informed of the occurrence, but no arrests have been made. One of the gunsmiths

I whose shop was visited tit Dublin states iu ! a letter to thepaperA that hu was directly 1 iired at, and iihktihe bullet pierced a sheet* iron sign standing on the counter: The burglars his shop two guns, as well as two rovbj^^pistols. On Decern ber residence of Mr O'Connor, Moorockdoclge, King's County, was attacked by four men. Mrs O'Connor opened the door, and was detained in the hall by one of the party, while the others went into her bed-ruom and took two guns. They then dragged Mr O'Connor outside and cut off his nose. Meantime, an alarm was given at the neighbouring residence of Mr Bailey, who, with his two sons, proceeded to Moorock and captured one of the party. On the 21st it was reported that another arrest had been made. A robbery of arms in Clonakilty has also been reported. Thvee men with their faces blackened accosted a farmer outside the town, and wrested from him a gun which he was carrying to get repaired at a gunsmith's shop there. A daring outrage was committed on the 27th December near Beleek, in the County of Armagh. Charles Murphy, a bailiff on the property of Mr C. IT. L. Ward, of Stratford-onAvon, was sitting at supper when a party of men entered his his house, after firing shots,, and struck him on the head with a pistol. He ran into a corner, and they assaulted him again. They also assaulted his wife and daughters. One of them handed him a book and wanted him to take an oath, but he refused. They smashed the furniture and windows, and then went away. He supposes that they accuse him with being instrumental in getting some of their rents raised, although there is no foundation for the charge. In February last he received a threatening letter, and a party of men broke in hi» door.—On the same day, a notice was posted on a Roman Catholic chapel at Carrick, County Donegal, cautioning the tenants against paying any increase of rent to the Messrs Musgrave, of Belfast, who lately purchased some property upon which they were expending large sums in improvements.

Desperate Encounter with a Bushranger. ROBBERY AND ASSAULT AT THE AMERICAN YARD. The Gundaijui Times gives the following '. particulars of this desperate affair:—" On Monday, 13th ult., about 2-a.iu., Mr Ledwidge was preparing to start for Adelong to purchase goods, when a bushranger, wlu> is believed to be the notorious Power, from the Victorian side, walked in and demanded his money. The ruffian was armed with & pair of formidable revolvers in his belt, and carried a double-barrel gun. A sort of scramble for the valuables—which, wo presume, were lying on the table—ensued. Mr Ledwidge secured a b;ig containing ever £SO worth of gold, and another with about £2O of silver in it; but the robber obtained possession of a bundle of cheques, and orders to the amount of £4O. Ledwidge and his wife then seized the bushranger, and in the struggle that followed, the gun he carried went off, the contents cutting off part of Mrs Ledwidge's ear. We have been informed that at this time the ruffian could easily have been secured had a hawker who was present acted as ho should have done, but the cowardly fellow would give no assistance. Finding that he and his wife were unable to capture their assailant, it seems that Mr Ledwidge ran off for assistance to the police-station,. which is about a mile off. On his way he came across a fine horse, saddled and bridled, evidently belonging to the bushranger. He attempted ; to get on the animal to ride forward, but finding it to be spirited and restive, contented himself with taking the saddle, bridle, and swag from it, hiding them, and turning the horse loose. On Mr Ledwidge's return to his stoic with assistance, he found that Power (if their assailant was that scoundrel) had during his absence frightfully ill-treated his wife. He had twice attempted to set tire to the store, but the brave woman had each time extinguished the flames • and the ruffian,, being by this time infuriated by the courageous resistance he had me!) with, and by his ill success in securing the booty he had anticipated, struck her with the butt of hw gnnn several times over the face and chest. Mrs Ledwidge's face, throat, and bosom are shockingly bruised and blackened by the blows she thus received. The robber had decamped before Mr Ledwidge arrived, but as he is on foot, there is every reason to hope that the police, who are in pursuit, will speedily secure him. If it is Power who committed this offence, as wo are assured is the case, the fact of the Victorian Government having offered a reward of £2OO for his apprehension may add to the keenness with which the search for him will be prosecuted. Mr Ledwidge has handed over to the police the bushranger'shorse, saddle, and bridle, which have been forwarded to Albuiy. We consider that the courage displayed by Mr and Mrs Ledwidge, especially by the latter, deservesgreat praise ; while, if the hawker who was present acted as above narrated—and we have every reason to credit the correctness of the version we have received, hip, conduct is deserving of the severest censure, as utterly cowardly, selfish, and unmanly. We presume he decamped wlw.w the affray began."