PATHETIC EVICTION SCENES

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2086, 22 May 1907, Page 1

PATHETIC EVICTION SCENES

Ireland has been the scene of many distressful eviction incidents, but few more poignant than that which occurred recently at Glasnevin; a Dublin suburb. For close upon 10 years a poor woman named Mrs. Maher has rented a small cottage and lialf-an-acre of land. She was served with notice to quit some time ago, the landlord, it is said, wishing to take possession himself.

She offered to pay an increased rent, and on refusal declined to go. The Town Tenants League took up the case, and when the sheriff and his bailiffs, supported by a large force of police, arrived - one morning, they found the place barricaded. A wall of corrugated iron protected the garden, but this was soon smashed, and an assault was then made on the hall door. This had been .strengthened inside with the stump of a tree, and was found irresistible, and the bailiffs were driven back with’ douches of cold water thrown through the fanlight. • The window' w'as smashed in, and the 'bailiffs found themselves in the room of Mrs. Maher’s lodger," a bedridden old woman of 92, who was apparently unconscious. Another window was then smashed, and here the bailiffs found Mrs. Maher’s son ill in bed. Doctors were sent for, and certified that this son was critically ill with heart and lung trouble, and could not be removed. In the case of the old woman the situation was still Imore serious. The doctor who had arrived on the scone declared that be believed her to bo dying. Ultimately the police arid bai-

liffs held a consultation and decided to abandon tho eviction. The decision was received with cheers by a large crow'd which had assembled, and which promptly helped to restore the evicted furniture.