Intriguing Cases - Ruth Cannon, Barrister, Four Courts History

The Divorce of a Deputy Crier, 1885-91

Angry woman yelling at man Ruth Cannon BL barrister — *Image via IStock*

From the Freeman’s Journal, 10 November 1885:

“PROBATE AND MATRIMONIAL DIVISION

Before the Right Hon Judge Warren, and a Common Jury

CARNEGIE V CARNEGIE – This was a suit by the wife for a divorce a mensa et thoro, on the grounds of cruelty. The petitioner is Phoebe Louisa Carnegie, who carries on business as a milliner and draper at 41 Henry-street, and the respondent, Richard Mackett Carnegie, is deputy crier of the Court of Chancery, verger of St Patrick’s Cathedral, and carries on read more

The Trial of Luke Dillon for the Rape and Seduction of Anne Frizell, 1831

Ruth Cannon Bl barrister Luke Dillon image — Image of Luke Dillon at the time of the trial, via National Library of Ireland.

From the Chester Courant, 26 April 1831

“TRIAL OF LUKE DILLON, FOR RAPE AND SEDUCTION

(Abridged from the Dublin Papers)

At five minutes to ten o’clock, the prisoner, Dillon, was removed from Newgate into the dock, when, without stopping for a moment, he at once advanced to the bar with an air, if not of callous, certainly of unblushing confidence. His hair was dressed in the most fashionable style – the ringlets adjusted with the most studied attention to effect, and his toilette read more

An Unusual Ballina Libel Action, 1955

*The cause of all the trouble – the defendant’s missing Irish setter dog, which he believed had been taken by the plaintiff. Generic Irish setter dog image via Art.com*

From the Ballina Herald, 30 April 1955:

“Unusual Ballina Libel Case

Exception Taken to Note Written by Dumb Shoemaker.

The absence of an interpreter of the sign language used by deaf and dumb people caused an adjournment at Ballina Circuit Court on Wednesday of one of the most extraordinary libel cases ever to be listed. It was one in which Mr O’Hara, a labourer, Ballina, sought a decree for £75 against Mr Clarke, boot and shoe repairer, Ballina, on the grounds of libel.

The plaintiff’s read more

A Six-Year-Old Prosecutes, 1837

From the Freeman’s Journal, 10 May 1837:

“DUBLIN POLICE COURT, COLLEGE-STREET

A coal porter of the name of Fogarty was brought before the magistrates, charged by a little boy of about six years of age, with having robbed read more

To Fake a Death, 1861

Millais, *The Artist Attending the Mourning of a Young Girl*, via the Tate.

From the Paisley Herald and Renfrewshire Advertiser, 25 May 1861:

“THE DEAD ALIVE – EXTRAORDINARY CASE

Some years ago, in Dublin, a husband and wife, it appears, took it into their heads to possess themselves of £500 which had been left as a legacy to the wife, under the condition that she should receive the interest during her life, and be at liberty to bequeath the principal to any friend at her death. Being anxious, it appears to obtain the principal, it was arranged that she read more