THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: Farmer ordered to serve six month prison term

From the News Letter, January 3, 1912
A lovely old photo of Hill Street, Newry, Co Down from the Eason Collection held by the National Library of Ireland, NLI Ref: EAS_1441. Picture: National Library of IrelandA lovely old photo of Hill Street, Newry, Co Down from the Eason Collection held by the National Library of Ireland, NLI Ref: EAS_1441. Picture: National Library of Ireland
A lovely old photo of Hill Street, Newry, Co Down from the Eason Collection held by the National Library of Ireland, NLI Ref: EAS_1441. Picture: National Library of Ireland

A well-known Co Down dairy farmer named Mr Thomas Wells, who resided at Conrainey in Co Down, appeared before the Newry Quarter Sessions this week in 1912 reported the News Letter.

Wells, who appeared before his Honour Judge Orr, was charged with having in either October or November last, “feloniously stolen 249 pocket handkerchiefs” the goods of Messrs Thomas Jordan & Sons, and on a second count with having received the handkerchiefs knowing them to have been stolen.

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Defending Wells, Mr Richard Best, argued that his client was completely in the dark over whether or not the handkerchiefs had been stolen.

But Head-Constable Deeves of Lurgan said that when he went to the premises of Wells on November 24 he had found a parcel which had contained the alleged stolen handkerchiefs.

But this was refuted by Mr Best when he addressed the jury, he said: “In the present case there is not a shred of evidence that Wells stole the handkerchiefs in question.”

He went on to say that there was no evidence that a theft had even taken place in the first place.

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But the jury dismissed Mr Best’s argument and returned a guilty verdict.

His Honour said that the jury had “brought in an excellent verdict” and that Wells deserved “a very long sentence”, but having regard to his position and the appeal that been made by Mr Best he [the judge] would not pass sentence of more than six months imprisonment, without hard labour.