SECRET FILES REVEAL VILLANS OF THE PAST
FROM ANIMAL THEFT TO MURDER SECRET ‘ VICTORIAN’ POLICE FILES GO PUBLIC
DETAILS of the villains of Victorian Sligo who engaged in animal rustling, forgery, assaults and murder are now available through the publication of 19th century police files.
The collection allows members to examine their family and local history in a different light as it may be found that your great ancestor may have lived a life of crime, or rather may have been a victim of one.
The records include the names, addresses and descriptions of Sligo residents wanted for and convicted of various crimes, as well as their victims. Many of the crimes were connected to heightened periods of civil unrest that defined the Land War and its related tensions in rural Ireland in the final three decades of the 19th Century.
This was an era in Ireland when murders were seven times more likely and theft was rife. The collection reveals that across Ireland assault was the most common crime over the 32- year period with 28,353 cases reported. This was closely followed by reports of breaking of license conditions ( 28,092 cases) and of theft ( 23,345 incidences). The collection depicts over 20 accounts of murder that occurred across Sligo during the 32- year period. Assault in Cappagh Depicted in the gazettes is the assault of Hugh Bowie a native of Cappagh whose life was placed in great danger on 29th of May 1874.
Five men who are described in detail in the records carried out the assault.
They were James Finan who is described as having the mark of an old cut on the first finger of his right hand, blue eyes, regular nose, fair complexion, full face, stout make, 5ft 9inches tall and about 21 years of age.
Edward McGuiness is described as having stooped shoulders, grey eyes, regular nose, fresh complexion, a thin face and being about 20 years of age.
The third person in question, James Gallagher had grey eyes, a regular nose, fresh complexion, black hair and also about twenty years of age. Michael Gallagher had blue eyes, short nose, was of a sallow complexion, of thin make and about 19 years of age.
The last man, James McHugh is described as having dark eyes, a regular nose, sallow complexion, thin face but stout make and about 22 years of age.
Lastly, all five men in question when last seen were all dressed in dark clothing and had the appearance of harvestmen.
Murder in Achonry A special notice was placed in the police gazettes on August 17th 1877. This special notice was in relation to the death of John McGloin who was murdered by Thomas Hunt. Both men were natives of Achonry. It is believed that Thomas struck Mr McGloin with a large stone and subsequently fractured McGloin’s skull on November 29th. Thomas Hunt is described as having a down- looking appearance, two large upper front teeth, large heavy lips and sunken jaws. He had one black eye, a slightly cocked nose, of stout make and 5 ft 9 or 10 inches tall.
It is believed that Mr McGloin had recently returned to Achonry having spent time in both America and England.
Finally, the notice ends by stating he has a pair of English- made navy boots with iron plates and a light pair of wellington boots.