Pat Purcell Papers. 1832. Draft report from Matthew Singleton, Chief Magistrate of Police, Tollerton House, to Sir William Gosset, Chief Secretary for Ireland, Dublin Castle, Dublin. Whitefeet Outrage. 6th May 1832. Dear Sir, In consequence of having received information that an intended riot was to take place in the Town of Carlow on Friday last, it being a Fair Day in the town, I had two chief-constables and a strong party of police and military in attendance at Carlow Graigue. About four o'Clock in the afternoon I got an account that a party of evil disposed Whitefeet were then attacking Mr Thomas's house about three miles from here. I therefore lost not a moment in going to the Barracks in Carlow and called on Major Ryan who turned out a force of the 5th Dragoons, and Lieutenant Otway and a detachment of the 50th Regiment; proceeded to Mr Thomas's house and ascertained that six armed men with pistols had been there at 12 o'Clock noon. On information from Mr John Sherlock, Esquire, of Mountrock, who stated that the raiding party calling themselves Whitefeet had stopped him on the road and presented their pistols at him and demanded to know if he held any fire-arms, and tendered a prayer-book to him to swear on that he had not any fire-arms on him or at his house, after so swearing on the prayer-book the Whitefeet party then proceeded in the direction of Athy. Upon receiving this information the military and a party of constables from Ballickmoyler and Ballylinan proceeded at once on the various roads to Athy and in the town of Athy they succeeded in apprehending a suspicious fellow in a public-house and on searching him, found a prayer-book and some gun-powder wrapped in paper in his pockets. This man calls himself William Doody. Two men in his company were also apprehended. I had Mr Sherlock brought before the man called Doody and Mr Sherlock identified this man as the leader of the Whitefeet party who stopped him on the road and also identified the prayer-book as the book presented to him to swear on. I have committed the man called Doody to Carlow Gaol awaiting Trial. This man's arrest and committal to the Gaol in Carlow to await trial at the next Assizes must be of vital importance to the peace of the Country. I was obliged to pledge myself to Mr Sherlock that if he would identify any of the party of Whitefeet that held him up I would instantly place two constables at his home for his family's protection, and on his identifying Doody I sent two men to his house. I have much pleasure to add that I know of another of the Whitefeet raiding party and am sure he will be found. I have the police on search for him. The Magistrates of the County have spoken of the need to have more men appointed to the Constabulary force of the County of Carlow in order to put a stop to the terror and dread inflicted by the Whitefeet in the area and to preserve the public tranquillity in the County. The Magistrates desire that I would request you inform His Excellency, The Lord Lieutenant, of the urgent need to augment the present force in the County I have the honour to be your obedient servant, Matthew Singleton, Chief Magistrate of Police. Carlow and Queen's County.