CHARGE OF THREATENING LORD ORANMORE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2364, 14 October 1880, Page 4

CHARGE OF THREATENING LORD ORANMORE.

At the Hammersmith Police Court, on Aug. 23, James Donovan, footman to Dr Tegart, of 49, Jermyn street, was brought up on a warrant charged with sending threatening letters to Lord Oranmore. of Queen’s gate, Kensington* Inspector Butcher, of Scotland Yard, produced several letters which Lord Oranmore had received. The first was as follows:—“Tipperary Man,—Take notice, Lord Oranmore, of this letter, though little you may think it. You have raised your Orange tongue again, but this will be your last. Once more you are trying to injure Irish tenants; but beware :by night and by day you will be watched until that Orange tongue of yours shall be given to the dogs—what you are only fit for. You know this day twelve months there won’t be a landlord left in Ireland, but all will be shot, and you thick-headed Orange bastard will be the first. You know that you are a Protestant villain, so beware ; go where you may your Orange face will be known. Don’t think this is only a threatening letter, in will come to pass. You know what every informer gets, so shall you. There are 150,000 Irishmen thirsting for your blood, which they will have and now remember there is one who will have the first shot at you. Rory of the Hill. Remember Lord Leitrim —A Fenian. Down with Orangemen.’’ Lord Oranmore proved the receipt of the letter, which bore the postmark of the date of June 13. Inspector Butcher said all the letters contained threats except one, which was written as if from a friend giving advice. One of the letters contained the words, “ One who hopes to be your murderer, God save Ireland. Down with the Queen I” and another, “ Look at the fate of Boyd and Leitrim, but neither was a patch on you, but you will receive a ball when you least expect it. I will not waste time in giving you, such an Orange Protestant dog, further notice.” This letter, wTiich, was the last, had the sketch of a gun, skull and bones, and coffin underneath. Lord Oranmore said he wrote a letter with regard to the state of Ireland, and it appeared in the “ Times.” A day or two afterwards he received the first letter. Witness wrote a second letter which was published, and on the same day he received the last letter. The prisoner, in reply to the magistrate as to whether he wished to ask Lord Oranmore any questions, said he could only say, before a court of justice and the justice of Heaven, that he never heard of his name or took a pen in his band to write a letter to him. Inspector Butcher said he had been engaged in making inquiries to trace the writer of the letters, but for a time he was able only to find that all the stationery came from one shop. On the 18th inst the last letter was received, and it was written upon a sheet of paper, an address on the top having been roughly torn off. He made inquiry at the same stationer’s shop, and saw Dr. Tegart on Saturday. He showed the last letter which Lord Oranmore had received to the prisoner, who said he did not know anything about it. Dr Tegart said the prisoner had been in his employ since the beginning of the year. He could not give any opinion as to the hand-writing of the letters. Inspector Butcher said he was induced to see the prisoner in consequence of the information which he had received from the witness. Dr Tegart in answer to further questions, said when he returned home on Saturday ho found that the prisoner had gone out without his permission. He never heard the prisoner make any remark about Lord Oranmore. The paper on which the letters were written and envelopes were similar to those which he used. Anyone in the house, and visitors who were shown into the room, had access to the paper. Mr. Sheill remanded the prisoner and refused to accept bail. The prisoner said there was no proof against him. It would be very hard not to let him out on bail. The assistant gaoler then removed him.