THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: White gloves presented to judge to mark a ‘crimeless’ Co Tyrone

His Honour Judge Linehan presided over the Omagh Crown Sessions this week in 1915 and it proved to be a remarkable occasion, reported the News Letter.

Mr R H Carson, SCS, said told the judge that was “in the happy position to be able to inform His Honour that there was no criminal business of any kind returned for these sessions”.

Colonel Irvine, CB, said that it was his very pleasing duty to present to His Honour with a pair of white gloves which were “emblematical of the peaceful state of the County of Tyrone”.

He added: “That condition of affairs [the absence of “criminal business”] appeared to apply not only in this division in the county but to the entire county because a case that had been tried at Dungannon recently had been of the most trivial nature, and it was a pity to have had to bring 70 jurors together to dispose of it.”

He added that could not say for sure whether “the diminution of crime” in Tyrone was due to “His Honour’s administration of criminal law” or if it was attributable to the ongoing First World War.

He said: “It is attributable to the latter then we have cause to congratulate ourselves on the fact that the criminal classes in community had recognised their duty and had gone to act the part of heroes and fight the battles of their country.”