Read the copy these stories were drawn from on the Internet Archive.
- 9
- stories drawn from it
- 9
- placed on the map, at 6 points
- 1
- county: Tipperary
- 692
- words in the passages on this page
The stories, best first
9 in all
Each story keeps the passage it was read from. Open one to read it as the scan has it, and, where the companion has written its own telling, that too. The passages are read off photographs of the page by machine, so a word here and there comes out wrong; they are kept as the reading produced them, so you can check any of them against the scan.
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Body buried in a shallow grave near Ballyvadlea
Ballyvadlea · townland · Tipperary · 1895
Michael Cleary forced Patrick Kennedy at knifepoint to help him bury Bridget Cleary's body, wrapped in a sack and sheet, in a hole he had already dug, refusing to take her to consecrated churchyard ground.
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He stuck her into an old sack and an old sheet. He asked me would I go with him, add I said I would before I’d be killed. I went with him and he pulled a spade and a shovel out of an old furze bush, and threw her partly on her side. He pressed her with his foot down. I have no mre to say Sir. I’m cracked after it. I am under the care of Dr Crean for six years. For to see my first
(52)
Internet Archive McGillLibrary-osl_tipperary-witch-case_BibOsl7636-17653, Chapter 6
As the companion tells it
Somewhere around here, Michael Cleary buried Bridget Cleary in 1895. He stuck her into an old sack and an old sheet. Patrick Kennedy said Cleary forced him to go along. Kennedy went, as he said, before he'd be killed. Cleary pulled a spade and a shovel out of an old furze bush, threw her partly on her side, and pressed her down with his foot. Kennedy said he had no more to say. He said he was cracked after it.
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Clonmel assizes: trial and sentencing for the witchcraft murder
Clonmel · town · Tipperary · 1895
At the Clonmel assizes, Justice O'Brien addressed the grand jury on the extraordinary witchcraft murder case, and the trial proceeded with guilty verdicts of manslaughter; Michael Cleary was sentenced to 20 years penal servitude and other prisoners received lesser sentences.
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His Lordship thc-n proceeded to pass sentence- amidst a scene of painful silence. After a lengthened and impressive address he said - I impose a sentence such as will show the sense I entertain of your guilt and that is that you be kept
in penal servitude for 20 years.
Internet Archive McGillLibrary-osl_tipperary-witch-case_BibOsl7636-17653, Chapter 6
As the companion tells it
Clonmel, in Tipperary. In 1895 the assizes here heard the witchcraft murder case. Justice O'Brien sentenced Michael Cleary to 20 years penal servitude. The court fell into painful silence before he spoke. He called the sentence a measure of their guilt. Other prisoners received lesser sentences.
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Cleary's confession in the Drangan chapel yard
Drangan · parish · Tipperary · 1895
In the chapel yard at Drangan, Michael Cleary confessed to John Dunne and later to the coadjutor that he had burned his wife the previous night, saying he was satisfied to suffer for it.
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"I burned her now and I am satisfied to
suffer for it"
Internet Archive McGillLibrary-osl_tipperary-witch-case_BibOsl7636-17653, Chapter 6
As the companion tells it
In the parish of Drangan, in 1895, Michael Cleary confessed in the chapel yard that he had burned his wife the previous night. He said, "I burned her now and I am satisfied to suffer for it."
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Bridget Cleary's body found in Drangan sub-district
Drangan · parish · Tipperary · 1895
After going missing, the body of Mrs Bridget Cleary was found in the Drangan Police Sub District, prompting nine arrests. Informations were sworn regarding torture and forced feeding of her by the accused men led by a fairy doctor.
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A telegram received in Clonmel this evening announces that the body of the missing woman, Mrs Cleary , has been found in Drangan Police Sub District.
On Monday evening the authorities made the first public move
Internet Archive McGillLibrary-osl_tipperary-witch-case_BibOsl7636-17653, Chapter 2
As the companion tells it
Near Drangan, in 1895, the body of Mrs Bridget Cleary was found in the police sub-district. She had gone missing. A telegram carried the news to Clonmel. Nine arrests followed. Informations were sworn that she had been tortured and force-fed by men led by a fairy doctor.
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Prisoners marched through Clonmel amid public fury
Clonmel · town · Tipperary · 1895
An enormous hostile crowd gathered around the county jail and courthouse in Clonmel as the accused were brought to face magistrates, jeering and hissing at them as they passed.
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sole topic of conversation on all sides and further details were eagerly awaited. Yesterday it was announced that the prisoners vould be □’’■’ought before the magistrates and an enormous crowd collected about the county jail, and along the streets to the Court¬ house. They waited for nearly two hours % and when the prisoners finally appeared under a heavy police escort they were greeted with yells , hisses and groans and the crowd followed them to the Court¬ house indulging in all kinds of cries , showing intense feeling against them.
The prisoners were placed in the dock in the Criminal Court,
Internet Archive McGillLibrary-osl_tipperary-witch-case_BibOsl7636-17653, Chapter 5
As the companion tells it
As you pass through Clonmel, this is the town where, in 1895, a huge crowd gathered outside the county jail and along the streets to the courthouse. They waited nearly two hours for the prisoners to appear. When the accused finally came out under heavy police escort, the crowd met them with yells, hisses, and groans, and followed them all the way to the courthouse. It was the sole topic of conversation on all sides, and feeling against the prisoners ran intense.
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Inquest verdict at Cloneen: death by extensive burns
Cloneen · townland · Tipperary · 1895
Coroner J.J. Shee and a jury held an inquest at Cloneen on the body of Bridget Cleary, hearing medical evidence of severe burns and organ damage, ultimately returning an open verdict on cause and perpetrator.
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of Tullycusstfne on Friday , 22nd March 1895 , and we find that death was caused by extensive burns , how or by whom caused we have no evidenc to show. We further find that deceased was alive in her own house on the I3th March 1895".
Internet Archive McGillLibrary-osl_tipperary-witch-case_BibOsl7636-17653, Chapter 4
As the companion tells it
Somewhere close to Cloneen, an inquest was held in March 1895 on the body of Bridget Cleary. Coroner J.J. Shee and a jury found that death was caused by extensive burns, but returned an open verdict, saying they had no evidence to show how or by whom the burns were caused. She had been alive in her own house on the 13th of March.
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Kennedy house burned down in reprisal after the trial
Ballyvadlea · townland · Tipperary · 1895
News reached Clonmel that the Kennedy family's house near the scene of the crime was maliciously burned down by neighbours, allegedly to prevent the family's return to the district if acquitted.
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The report states "news has reached Clonmel that the house of the Kennedy’s near the scene of the occurrence was burned down maliciously last night , it is sta ted , by some of the neighbours ; to prevent their return again to live xn the district in case
of there- being acquitted.
Internet Archive McGillLibrary-osl_tipperary-witch-case_BibOsl7636-17653, Chapter 6
As the companion tells it
Somewhere close to Ballyvadlea, the Kennedy family's house stood near the scene of what happened. In 1895, word reached Clonmel that it had been maliciously burned down by neighbours, so the family could not return to live in the district again if they were acquitted.
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Search for Bridget Cleary at Kilnagranagh area
Kilnagranagh · townland · Tipperary · 1895
John Dunne and Michael Cleary searched the boreens, furze ditches and old houses around Kilnagranagh/Kildranagh, including the old kitchen garden, believing Bridget might be found there before Cleary confessed to the burning.
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down at my place on the low ro-d , about a mile and a half away. "Well" said I, "there is no place there that I don’t know and if she is there we will make her out”. I went down and there was a boreen and a large furze ditch. I told him to go on one side and I would s’-ay on the other. So we did and we went on until we came to Kildranagh House. We searched all round there and then we searched all the houses we got open. He (Cleary) went into the old kitchen garden. There was a sms.ll I-iouse there and we searched it. "She is not now” said I, "in Kilgranagh and there is nothing but fields now and we could see her.What must happen Iter ?" , said I. "Ah don't ever speak of it" said he, "she was burned last night and it was I that burned her". "All you vagabond , why did you do it" said I. "It’s not my wife I iiad" said he , "she was too fine a woman to be my wife". I told him to go now and give himself up to the authorities and to the priest and get himself punished , and said "you will have no living on this earth, your conscience tormenting you". Cleary said "I will cut my throat or will do something to my self before night".
I told him "that’s only nonsense, to think of doing that. It is better for you to ^o and give yourself up to the priest and the authorities". "Well, I will" says he " if you come with me".
Internet Archive McGillLibrary-osl_tipperary-witch-case_BibOsl7636-17653, Chapter 6
As the companion tells it
Somewhere around here, in 1895, John Dunne and Michael Cleary searched for Bridget Cleary. Dunne told Cleary there was no place around there he did not know, and if she was there they would find her. They went down a boreen with a large furze ditch, Dunne on one side, Cleary on the other, and came to Kildranagh House. They searched all round it, then searched every house they found open. Cleary went into the old kitchen garden where there was a small house, and they searched that too. Dunne said she was not in Kilgranagh now, there was nothing but fields, and they could see her if she were there. He asked what must have happened to her. Cleary said, "Ah don't ever speak of it. She was burned last night and it was I that burned her." Dunne called him a vagabond and asked why he did it. Cleary said, "It's not my wife I had. She was too fine a woman to be my wife." Dunne told him to go and give himself up to the authorities and to the priest and get himself punished. He said Cleary would have no living on this earth, his conscience tormenting him. Cleary said he would cut his throat or do something to himself before night. Dunne told him that was nonsense, that it was better to go and give himself up to the priest and the authorities. Cleary said he would, if Dunne came with him.
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Family funeral at Killenaule during the ordeal
Killenaule · town · Tipperary · 1895
While Bridget Cleary was being tormented at home, several of the Kennedy brothers left to attend Michael Cleary's father's wake and funeral at Killenaule, returning the next night to find her sitting by the fire.
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Then myself and my three brothers went that night to his father’s
wake and funeral to Xillenaule , leaving about 12 or I o’clock.
Internet Archive McGillLibrary-osl_tipperary-witch-case_BibOsl7636-17653, Chapter 6
As the companion tells it
Killenaule is a town the road passes through. While Bridget Cleary was being tormented at home, several of the Kennedy brothers came here for Michael Cleary's father's wake and funeral. As one said, they left about 12 or 1 o'clock that night. They returned the next night to find Bridget sitting by the fire.
This book is in the public domain; how the books' rights are judged. The passages are quoted as the scan has them, spelling and all; a story's place is the gazetteer's best reading of the text and can be wrong.