From the archives: Tussle in Mayo county town over revolvers

By Tom Gillespie

AT the Castlebar Petty Sessions on June 4, 1902, a respectable local gentleman named as Mr. John Murphy (known as ‘Justice’), of Spencer Street, Castlebar, was prosecuted for being drunk and disorderly.

Mr. A.B. Kelly, solicitor, for defendant, facetiously remarked that he thought that the justices had no jurisdiction to deal with the case.

Mr. O’Donel, J.P. - Why, Mr. Kelly.

Mr. Kelly - Because my client is a ‘chief justice’. (Laughter).

Head Constable Deeves - Yes, but only ‘chief justice’ of Spencer Street. (Laughter).

Constable Edward Brady stated that he found the defendant and a man named McDonagh engaged in a row outside the licensed premises of Mr. Malachy Thornton on Castle Street.

They had a revolver between them, which belonged to McDonagh, and they were both engaged in a desperate struggle for possession of the weapon.

Mr. Faulkner, J.P. - Has McDonagh a licence to carry a revolver?

Head Constable Deeves - He has a licence. The revolver is necessary for his protection.

Mr. Faulkner - Have you a summons against McDonagh?

Witness - I did not summon him because he was not drunk and had not committed any offence.

Mr. Kelly - Had McDonagh two revolvers in his possession.

Witness - Yes.

Mr. Faulkner - Has he a licence for two?

Witness - No, but one of them was retained by the police and the matter has been reported to the authorities.

For the defence, Mr. Kelly explained that McDonagh, who was a bailiff and who lived at Cloonconragh, prevailed upon his client to have a drink in Mr. Thornton’s shop but failed to pay for the liquor consumed.

Mrs. Thornton requested the assistant to ask McDonagh for payment and when he mentioned the matter to him McDonagh produced the revolvers and stated he would pay for the drink with them.

Mr. Murphy, seeing that the shop assistant was in danger, immediately rushed for the revolvers and took hold of both of them in order to save the assistant from possible injury.

They were both tussling for the revolvers when Constable Brady appeared at the scene.

He admitted Mr. Murphy had some drink taken but the excitement of the struggle had more effect upon him than the liquor.

The magistrates convicted and fined Mr. Murphy 10/6 with costs.

Eleven years earlier (1891) Mr. Richard J. Staunton, bookmaker, Rock Square, Castlebar, must have been one of the first Irish industrialists in the country.

Long before there was any propaganda in favour of purchasing Irish, Mr. Staunton saw to it that in his establishment no boots of foreign manufacture would be offered for sale.

Under the heading ‘Mayo Spring Assizes, 1891’- a rather unusual one for a commercial advertisement - Mr. Staunton intimated that during the course of the coming Assizes, when a large gathering of strangers would visit the town, he would have on display in his shop ‘a first class variety of gentlemen’s fine, hand-sewn boots in Riding, Hunting, Shooting, Dress and other styles, all made on the premises from the very best of materials’.

After issuing an invitation to all and sundry to visit and inspect his stock, he concluded the advertisement with: ‘No imported boots sold in my store’.

Mr. Staunton carried on his trade in the lock-up shop at Rock Square in which later Hanley’s fancy goods and newsagency business was located.

In April 1891 ‘The cup that cheers’ was the heading of another advertisement issued by Mr. P.J. McLynskey, general merchant, Main Street, Castlebar, who stated that his new stock of excellent tea, purchased in the leading houses in the trade, was ‘as good as gold’.

He also announced that the popular bakehouse, lately in the possession of Mr. Staunton, was again in working order and that the best bread in town - brown or white, rich or plain - 'would always be available to customers’.

Mr. McLynskey subsequently occupied the licensed shop and grocery later owned by Mrs. Leamy and then transferred to a premises further down Main Street which was the property of Mr. Michael McDonagh and which was then divided between Miss Agnes Fahy (general draper) and Mr. McGreal (victualler).

Mr. McLynskey was father of Mrs. Walter Bourke, Castle Street, and of Messers. William and Joe McLynskey who carried on business beside the town bridge in an extensive shop previously occupied by Mr. Patrick Timlin.

On June 13 of the same year (1891) The Mayo Examiner announced that the former owner, Mrs. Murtagh, had disposed of the Imperial Hotel, The Mall, Castlebar, to Mrs. Hartan; the latter had taken possession of the premises during the week.

The new proprietress, who was described as a ‘most courteous and accomplished lady’, intended to carry out many structure alterations and improvements to the building.

Mrs. Hartan was sister of Sir Henry Doran, Chief Inspector of the former Congested Districts Board, who was knighted for his services in connection with the distribution of land among the tenant farmers.

Mrs. Hartan retained the hotel for almost a decade and disposed of it to a Mr. Reid.

And today, 133 years later, the future of the Imperial Hotel is still making headlines as to its future use. The premises had been purchased by Mayo County Council but, sadly, has fallen into disrepair.

The historic significance of the building has been highlighted by many commentators, being the location for the founding of the Land League by Michael Davitt and James Daly, editor of The Connaught Telegraph, on October 21, 1879.