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    1. [COTIPPERARY] From the Clonmel Chronicle.30-7-1888
    2. Mary Heaphy
    3. >From the Clonmel Chronicle.30-7-1888 Evicted in his Coffin. One of the most extraordinary incidents that has yet occurred in connection with evictions took place in Cashel on Monday last. At the last petty sessions held in Cashel the representatives of the late Mr. Daniel Kyte proceeded against a weekly tenant named Mr. Frank Dwyer for possession of a weekly tenement, situate in William Street, for non payment of rent. The defence set up was that Mr. Kyte had left Dwyer the house, together with a coffin, which he kept beside him in his room, but notwithstanding this contention the Justices gave a decree for possession. Before the eviction Dwyer, better known as "Franky Doodle" made preparations on a somewhat extended scale to barricade the place. On Monday morning the town bailiff proceeded with a party of police to William Street to carry out the orders of the magistrates. The house, as already stated, was barricaded. "Franky" making his appearance at one of the windows, shouting, "You can't evict me out of the coffin. I will go into the coffin, and you must put me out, coffin and all". After some further parley on the part of "Franky" and the police, he agreed to give up possession, but only on the condition that he should be evicted while in his coffin. The key of the door was then thrown down, and the barricades being removed, the bailiffs and police entered at once, proceeded to put "Franky" out, whom they still found lying in the coffin. Owing, however to the stairs being so narrow they had to put the coffin, with its living inmate, out through one of the windows. The sight was certainly a novel one, and not without its amusing aspect--bailiff and police lowering an unpainted and open coffin, within which was stretched, or rather reclined, "Franky" in excellent health, and wearing a high silk hat, around which was twisted an old veil. As he descended he protested to the assembled crowd against his "illegal eviction," but if one was to judge from the boisterous laughter that was heard on all sides the spectators seemed greatly to enjoy the scene. As soon as the coffin reached terra firma the "Boys" who seemed inclined for more fun, raised it up, placed it on their shoulders, and proceeded up the main street, followed by a large gathering cheering lustily for "Franky" as he sat upright in it.

    12/24/2007 02:56:25