Ghastly Stabbing Fatality in 1888
Glangevlin Farmers Quarrel on Return from Fair
By A.F. McEntee

Article submitted by Ellen McGovern of Australia from source unknown

What must go down in history as the most frightful occurrence ever in West Cavan, took place in the vicinity of Glangevlin on the evening of Saturday November 13, 1888, when a quarrel arose amongst a number of farmers returning from the fair of Swalinbar, resulting in the death of Thomas McGovern, a married man with five children, owner of sixty to seventy acres of land in the Glangevlin area, and a much respected man in the locality.

During the fatal affray, McGovern was brutally stabbed in several places and his abdomen was practically ripped open. As he lay on the road in the road in a dying condition, convenient to his home, Sergeant Long R.I.C, who happened to be on patrol duty came on the scene, and the injured man was conveyed to the nearby house of Charles Shannon, and priest and doctor were sent for. A number of men were arrested.

In the meantime Mr. James Bracken, J.P., when acquainted of the occurrence, immediately attended and took a deposition from the dying man who succumbed to his injuries at midnight on Sunday.

It was stated that one of the men arrested had a dispute with McGovern some time previously over a pass.

Evidence at the Inquest

An inquest into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, which, needless to say, shocked the whole neighbourhood, was held on Tuesday, and the deposition by the dying man was put in evidence. He stated that he was at the fair of Swalinbar on Saturday, and left for home after dusk in the company of Terry McGovern, Patrick McGovern, and Charles Shannon, on the latter's car. When coming down the Ballyvolly they overtook Bartley McGovern, Thomas Dolan(known as the cub) and Phillip McGovern. Bartley McGovern struck the mare of their car and knocked her down, then went off cheering, and he did not see them until he came to the Pound at his own turn. Bartley McGovern then came up and made at him. "I threw off my coat and we both made at each other", went on the deposition, "I put him down under me. Tom Dolan 'The Cub', one of the defendants present, came up behind me and stabbed me with a knife in my belly and side. I shouted to Charley Shannon that Tom Dolan had me murdered".

"Before and after I was stabbed, Phil McGovern the other defendant, struck me with a stick, and encouraged the other pair to lie up to me for a bitch, that now was their time".

"I remember nothing more after that as I became insensible. I next found myself in Charlie Shannon's, with the priest administering the last rites of the Church to me. I identify Phil McGovern and Tom Dolan both of whom are present".

Cross-examined by Tom Dolan - I first took off my coat at the Pound. I didn't cheer you at all. I swear that you stabbed me with a knife in my belly and sides. I had Bartley McGovern over against the ditch when you stabbed me, and Phil McGovern struck me with a stick".

The Medical Evidence

Dr. Hunter, J.P., Belcoo, Medical Officer, Hollywell District, stated that shortly after 4 a.m. on Sunday he arrived at the house of Charlie Shannon where Thomas McGovern was lying. He examined the dying man, who was left lying on the floor and found a wound on the left side severing the eighth, ninth and tenth ribs. It was about four inches long. After a great deal of trouble he succeeded in replacing the bowel. After McGovern complained of another wound in the thigh, he stripped him and discovered another wound in the abdomen with the bowels protruding. This wound was about one and a half inches long transversely across the groin. He next found a long incised wound in the front of the left thigh, fully eight inches long extending upwards, and he saw that the case was hopeless. He also found a fourth wound about an inch long and extending to the bone.

Witness said that either of the first two wounds would have been sufficient to cause death. The actual cause of death was collapse in consequence of the wounds described, which could have been inflicted by a sharp instrument.

Replying to a Juror, Dr. Hunter said the deceased in his presence and in the presence of Mr. James Bracken, J.P., said that it was Tom Dolan who stabbed him, and the deceased then said: "Why did you not strike me with a stone and not take a knife to me?" Tom Dolan was present and cross-examined him.

Charles Shannon, Eshvagh, stated that on the way home from the Swalinbar fair, they came as far as the Pound, where Tom McGovern got off the car to turn home. There were three or four persons on the road and remarks were passed. Witness then jumped off his car and ran down in the direction of the Pound where he met Bartley McGovern, Phil McGovern and Thomas Dolan. He asked Bartley McGovern to "go home for God's sake". Thomas McGovern was then on the country road at his own turn and was scolding them about his mare being struck. Phillip McGovern said to Bartley: "Kick him off the road".

Interruption From Outside

At this stage a man shouted in through the window where the inquest was being held: "You are not doing me the h..l of a lot of good there" and continued creating a disturbance until the Very Rev. T. Corr, P.P. went outside and mad the person go away.

Witness continuing with his evidence said the men ran up to the deceased and he followed them. Tom and Bartley were in holds and Phil McGovern struck the deceased on the head. Witness then struck Phillip McGovern twice with his whip and he ran away, with the witness in pursuit. He heard the deceased shout: "Tom Braddagh, you have murdered me". The deceased had Bartley McGovern down in the ditch, and witness got between them. Tom Dolan ran away and then returned.

Witness found him making fists and kicks at the deceased, and he turned round and asked him what he was doing. The deceased then fell on the ground and he could not get him up 'till the police arrived.

Witness said that he saw no knife in Tom Dolans hand, but he could have it without him seeing it. The police came up and put the deceased in the cart, and Sergeant Long arrested Tom Dolan and took him to the barracks. They then brought the deceased to the witnesses' house, where he died at 12 midnight on Sunday. Witness added that he never saw the deceased strike Bartley McGovern with a stone. He believed that Phillip McGovern, in trying to strike the deceased, struck Bartley McGovern with a stone. He believed that Phillip McGovern, in trying to strike the deceased, struck Bartley McGovern with a stone in the eye. Witness knew that there was ill-feeling between Thomas McGovern and Tom Dolan - a dispute about a pass.

The Jury brought in a verdict that death was due to wounds "which, according to the evidence and the dying man's statement, must have been inflicted on him by Thomas Dolan".

Dolan Sentenced to Penal Servitude

At the December sitting of Connaught Winter Assizes, Thomas Dolan was charged before Mr. Justice Gibson and a Jury with the murder of Thomas McGovern. He pleaded not guilty.

Mr. P. Trench, Q.C., outlining the case for the prosecution said that on the night of November 13th, near Glan, Thomas McGovern met his death by the hand of some man - and his death was caused by the use of a knife. He was found almost immediately by the police on the road, with frightful wounds on his person. From two of the wounds his bowels were protruding and half-severed. The case for the Crown was that the accused inflicted the wounds.

Charles Shannon repeated the evidence he had given at the inquest, and said that after the deceased fell on the road there was a shout of "Police, Police", and they came running up and jumped into the middle of the crowd. The injured man said to Tom Dolan, "Oh you killed me".

Sergeant M. Long gave evidence of finding the deceased lying in the road. He said that his shirt and trousers had to cut off his body.

Patrick McGoldrick stated that he had given Dolan a knife in Swalinbar to cut tobacco. He identified the knife produced.

Giving evidence for the defense, Charles McGovern stated that he saw Dolan hand back the knife to McGoldrick in Fee's publichouse.

McGoldrick, recalled by Mr. Henry for the defense, denied that he had said "He had a chance for Dolan now, and would hang him".

The accused protested his innocence, and accused other persons with having committed the deed.

The Jury brought in a verdict of manslaughter, and Mr. Justice Gibson sentenced the accused to fifteen years penal servitude

What a story! Thanks Ellen!