An Attempt to Blow Up Weston House

Western News and Weekly Express, 27th January, 1883

On Thursday morning last at a very early hour constable O'Brien of Ballyforan, with a force of police proceeded to Grange, County Roscommon, the residence of Joseph Curley, who was arrested the previous Saturday for harbouring and concealing James Kelly, who was charged with the attempt to blow up Weston House, and arrested his son James on a similar charge. He was brought to Ballinasloe Barrack, and subsequently he in company of his father and James Kelly, were taken before Mr W J Paul. R. M, Mount Catherin, where after a lengthened examination the three prisoners were remanded until Saturday (to—day). Curley senior is an old feeble man of about 70 years of age, and in his march back from Mount Catherine, it was noticed by several people that he looked weak and faint. When he returned to the barrack probably from the exertion of so long a walk and probably from a nervous feeling at seeing himself and his son in trouble, he became quite prostrate, and to all intents and purposes dead, but the pulse still beat and strongly for a man of his age. He was laid on the floor of the barrack covered with rugs and blankets and all the attention and kindness it was possible to render was given by the police. Dr Horne was immediately brought, who rendered him all the service in his power, and he continued to visit him at intervals until a late hour at night. Dr Horne said that nothing could be done for him, but he would get out of it. Rev P Costello, C A, was unremitting in his attentions upon the unfortunate man, but up to 9 o'clock there was no sign whatever of returning consciousness. Dr Horne recommended that he be taken and put in bed at the bridewell, where he would be more at ease. The police immediately procured a barrack table and having placed the old man thereon, and having covered him well with blankets and rugs the living corpse was borne by six policemen to the cheerless cell of the bridewell amidst a petting shower, and a crowd of wondering spectators followed the procession to the gate of the sick men's gloomy prison. He was placed in bed at once—the prison bed—and his son and the other prisoner allowed to stay with him until a late hour, and did not leave until he began to show signs of returning consciousness. He awoke as if out of a trance, and he is still very weak though recovering. Many conjectures were formed as to the cause of his sudden weakness but it would not require a man very well skilled in medicine to tell the reason. He is over 70 years of age, and is only guilty of the crime of harbouring a man whose name was on the Hue and Cry as being guilty of a felony. Perhaps in his long career this is the first charge that was ever made against him, and the long walk to Mr Paul's, perhaps on an empty stomach—certainly not on too full a one—together with seeing his son a prisoner, reacted so strongly on his system that he became prostrated. Together with this he was under the impression that he would be allowed out on bail, and friends had come from a long distance to give any security required for his due appearance at petty sessions, but Mr Paul was inexorable, and though men who had committed a murderous assault on a man were allowed out on bail not long since this old man whose hair is grey with honourable age, should return to the Bridewell, and not for all the money in Galway would he be allowed home to his friends until his trial. And still we are incredulous when told by those in power that the laws under which we live are the fairest in the world, and that they are administered without fear, favour, or affection!