LURGAN PETTY SESSIONS

LURGAN – These sessions were held in the Courthouse yesterday, before Messrs. William Liddell, J.P. (in the chair); T. D. Gibson, R.M.; James Johnston, J.P.; John Clendinning, J.P.; John Fleming, J.P.; and James Climond, J.P.

Jane Ruddy, Claytown, was brought up by Constable Love for cruelty to her infant child. Defendant was alleged to have given way to intemperance, and neglected her children; but, on the application of the Rev. J. S. Kerr, B.D., the case was adjourned.

Sergeant Irwin brought up a neglected lad named Johnston, who was committed to the Meath Industrial School.

Sergeant Wilson summoned John Wethers and Thomas Courtney for riotous behaviour in the streets at 11-30 o’clock at night. Wethers was fined 10s 6d and costs, and Courtney was ordered to undergo a month’s imprisonment in default of paying 20s and costs.

District-Inspector Hill prosecuted a young man named Joseph McQuillan for the larceny of a pair of boots belonging to Edward Timiny. The prisoner was sent to jail for one month.

Constable P. McLaughlin summoned a widower named William Stewart for having failed to contribute to the support of his three children in Meath Industrial School. Defendant said he was only able to pay 3d a week for each child, and the Court made an order accordingly.

A large number of persons were brought up by the constabulary and fined for drunken offences.

Sergeant James Gallagher prosecuted a discharged soldier named James Lynch for ill-treating a step-son, aged three and a half years, at his residence in Shankill Street, Lurgan, on the night of the 20th ult. Mr. O’Reilly defended the prisoner. Sergeant Gallagher deposed that the prisoner’s wife, who is the mother of the child, complained to him that her husband had assaulted her, locked her out, and was beating her child. He accompanied the woman to the house, and examined the child. On one of the thighs he found an extended red mark. The skin was broken in eight places, and blood was oozing from several of the spots. Blood was oozing from a scratch an inch long on the right temple, and one of the cheeks was blackened. He made a further examination of the injured child on the following day, and then found the thigh turned black, and there were also black stripes observable under the chin, and one of the ears was blackened. The marks could not have been produced by the open hand, and the child stated that the prisoner had beaten him with his hands and a belt. The prisoner’s wife and her child were obliged to remain all night in a neighbour’s house. The prisoner was discharged with a caution.

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