MOONLIGHTING IN IRELAND.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2289, 12 March 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

MOONLIGHTING IN IRELAND.

A TELEORAJf in The Times, dated Cork, December 27th, states :—A moonlight outrage of an extraordinary nature is reported from Freemount, a district which has been the scene of some violent manifestations in connection with land agitation. Though the occurrence took place on Wednesday night the particulars were only received in Cork to-day, the Christmas holidays having doubtless caused a delay in the circulation of the news. There is reason to think that the persons who took part in the affair were strangers, and it was stated as the cause of their lawless proceedings, that they were from Tipperary. Two houses were visited by the gang, but this arose from ignorance of the locality, and the object of the marauders was evidently to intimidate a man named Michael King, with the view of compelling him to surrender a farm which it was alleged he had grabbed, but which, in reality, was left to him by his father under a deed. The case was in some respects peculiar. King's father had two sons and a daughter; one son was provided for near his father's holding, and the other, James, was {promised the same farm conditionally on giving his sister a fortune. James got married contrary to his father's wishes and to a person who brought him no means. The father's plan that the fortuue James received with his wife should be handed over to his sister was frustrated, and he refused to give the farm to James. He transferred it instead to Michael, who was already provided for, but who in lieu of the acquisition was able to give the sister her fortune of _ £120. Michael, however, promised that it ever James was able to pay back the £120 he would give him up the holding. James proceeded to America and in course of time returned home with means and offered to redeem the farm from Michael. The refusal of tho letter to surrender the place led to the attack on his house last Wednesday night. A band of 15 men, armed and wearing disguises, visited the locality. They first entered the house of King's cousin, a person of the same name, but finding he was not the object of their inquiry they compelled him to accompany them to the right place. They entered King's house ; the latter and his son offered resistance, and the marauders set upon them and beat them. For over half-an-hour a series of struggles took place between King and his son and the moonlighters, and King was badly injured. He was taken from his own house to the, farm in dispute, and was there compelled to go on his knees and swear he would give it up. Shots were fired and the cousin was brought hither as a witness of the proceedings. The marauders were not known, either by King or his cousin, and the supposition is they were brought from a distance.