DESPERATE PARTY RIOT
The 12th of July did not, it appears, pass over without a serious, if not fatal,
breach of the peace. The papers publish this morning accounts from Lurgan, in the county of Armagh, where a fearful collision took place, in which no less
than sixteen persons of the Roman Catholic party were wounded, two, it is feared, mortally. One version of the affray is as follows:-
Large parties of those connected with Orange Societies, or sympathising therewith, including women and children, entered Lurgan from the country districts, and were accompanied by fifes and drums; there were several thousands, in all, and they attended Divine service in the parish, church, and afterwards separated to return to their respective homes. One of the parties,
on arriving at about two miles and a half from Lurgan, was met at a place called Moyntaghs, near Derryadd, by Roman Catholics, and a riot ensued. The disturbances having continued for some time, some of the Protestants returned to a Protestant house in the neighborhood, and there procured firearms, with
which they returned to the spot, and fired at the Roman Catholics, 16 of whom were wounded, and two of them (Thomas Murphy and Charles McCann)
are not expected to recover.
The riot occurred near to a Roman Catholic chapel. Ten arrests were made,
some on the declaration of the dying men. An investigation was held in Lurgan, before Lord Lurgan, J. Hancock, Esq., and W. M. Miller, Esq., B.M., when
five of the prisoners were discharged, two admitted to bail, and the other three committed for further inquiry.- Great commotion and excitement prevail in Lurgan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |