Poteen Charge at Derrynea — Talk of "A little Drop" and a Seidlitz Powder

The Connacht Tribune, Christmas Number, Saturday, December 8, 1928.

Prosecutions respecting the seizure of illicit spirits and malt occupied the greater part of the court proceedings at Derrynea on Tuesday.

Martin McDonagh, Clynagh, Costello, was prosecuted for being found in possession of a small quantity of illicit spirits on November 4 — Guard Sullivan, Carraroe, giving evidence in Irish, said that in company with Sergeant Duffy he kept a watch on the defendant's house from an early hour in the morning. Defendant came out and went to a particular spot, where they saw him stoop down and return to the house. They subsequently entered the house, which they searched and found a small quantity of poteen in a glass, which was produced.

Mr. H. G. Connolly, solicitor, Clifden, for defendant, remarked that it was about one—twelfth of a glass. — cross—examined, witness said he found the glass on the shelf of the dresser. Defendant asked him to show the glass to a man named Ridge, but he refused to do so, but he subsequently showed it to a man named O'Donnell. O'Donnell smelt it and said that there was "a little drop" there — Witness, in reply to further questions, said he was not aware the doctor was attending defendant's child, who was ill. He denied that the defendant said anything about the remains of a seidlitz powder being in the glass.

Sergeant Duffy gave corroborative evidence — cross examined by Mr. Connolly, witness said it was unlikely defendant, when he went out in the early morning, was going to the well for water, because there was not water there. They were about 400 yards away when they saw him. There was no talk about a seidlitz powder and defendant did not say a child of his was sick, or that the doctor prescribed a seidlitz powder.

Defendant said his child was sick, and the doctor prescribed a seidlitz powder —

The district justice convicted and sentenced defendant to three months hard labor, the sentence would be executed if he was convicted of a similar offence at any time within the next three years, and to enter into a recognition similar to the other cases previously decided.