The Cavan County Weekly - Friday, March 23, 1877 BIRTHS. MOORE - March 21, at Farnham-street, Cavan, the wife of Mark Moore, Esq., M.D., of a son. M'KAY - March 2, at Killykeen, Crossdoney, the wife of Mr. John M'Kay, Organist of Kilmore Cathedral, of twin sons. MARRIAGES. BLACK and BULLICK - March 15, in the University Road Wesleyan Church, Belfast, by the Rev. J. W. JONES, Rev. James BLACK, Wesleyan Minister, Belfast, to Miss Sarah Bullick, Lurgan. BERRY and FINLAY - March 21, in Kildallon Church, by the Rev. Wm. CREEK, assisted the Rev. E. M. Moore, Alexander Berry, Esq., Mullaghmore House, third son of the late Alexander Berry, Esq., J. P., Drumany to Eliza, eldest daughter of the late John Finlay, Esq., The Cottage, Ardlogher. GARVEY and SHEEHAN - March 15, in the Parish Church, Kinsale, by the Rev. E. B. DENEHY, A. Garvey, R.I.C., to Hannah Sheehan. DEATH. FLEMING - March 15, at 18, Sarah-street, Belfast, Peter, only child of Mr. Peter Fleming (late of Cavan), aged 8 months. APPALLINGLY SUDDEN DEATH . - A respectable man named John NEILL, lately a butcher carrying on business in Carlow, but recently engaged in the export cattle trade, died very suddenly at his residence in the Brown's Hill road, on Sunday. On Saturday he attended the fair of Baltinglass, and appeared in his usual health. On his return in the event he assisted at the slaughter of some cattle here, and appeared still in perfect health. On Sunday morning he complained a little, and after breakfast he suddenly ceased to live. He leaves a helpless young family of seven children, totally unprovided for. ROYAL IRISH CONSTABULARY. On Saturday, 17th inst. Col. HILLIER, Inspector-General, R.I.C. arrived in Cavan and inspected the district. After putting the men through drill movements and their police discipline, the Colonel expressed himself as well pleased with the result of his inspection. TESTIMONIAL TO SUB-INSPECTOR HAYES. On Wednesday evening last, the Committee of the above Testimonial met in the Farnham Arms Hotel, Edward KENNEDY, Esq., J.P., presiding. There was a large attendance. Mr. J. WATERS, Treasurer, read the list of subscriptions already received, which amounted to a very considerable sum. It was stated that several parties who were anxious to join in the tribute of esteem had not yet sent in their subscriptions. As it was not the intention of the Committee to keep the matter open long, it was deemed advisable to name a day for closing the list. The Chairman, after some complimentary remarks on Mr. Hayes, approved of the suggestion. On the motion of Mr. GANNON, seconded by Mr. WILLS, it was agreed that the subscription list shall close on Monday, the 2nd of April. It was moved and carried unanimously that in the absence of the Hon. Sec., Major KERR, who is at present in Carlow, that Mr. Patrick CAFFREY be requested to act as Hon. Sec. The Committee then adjourned. RAILWAY ACCIDENT. Elsewhere in our columns may be found an account of a lamentable accident which occurred on the railway line between Cavan and Clones on last Friday evening. We need not here repeat the circumstances; but we cannot refrain from stating that there is a universal feeling of deep and earnest sympathy with the parents and relatives of the decease. It must be some consolation to them in their bitter sorrow, to know that neighbours, friends, and acquaintances, of all creeds and classes, would willingly enlighten the burden of their affliction if that were possible. We have much satisfaction in mentioning that in this instance no blame can attach to the Railway Company or their officials. Mr. ARMSTRONG, solicitor, and Mr. ATWELL, station-master attended the inquest of Mrs. PRUNTY's remains; and offered, on behalf of the Railway Company, to produce any of their servants whose presence or testimony might be required by the Coroner or the jury. The evidence given does not impute blame to any one, nor excite suspicion against any one; and it is probable the accident would not have occurred but that the shadows of the evening were rendered denser and darker by the heavy showers of snow then falling. At the same time we must take this opportunity of warning the public generally against the folly of walking on the Railway line. Those who do so violate the law, and are liable to be prosecuted and fined. The railway companies have adopted all necessary means to make this universally known; and we are persuaded there are very few who can plead ignorance of the law. If the matter could be confined within these limits, we should be quite content to leave it so; but there is the more serious consideration, that those who thus violate the law expose themselves to the danger of instant death. In many instances fatal accidents have resulted from this cause alone. We hope that those who have hitherto indulged the foolish and criminal practice of walking on the railway line will henceforth abandon it; otherwise, the Railway Company should vigorously enforce the law against all offenders without respect of persons. A WOMAN KILLED ON THE RAILWAY NEAR BUTLERSBRIDGE. About seven o'clock on last Friday evening, Mrs. Mary PRUNTY, wife of a farmer living near Redhills was killed by the up-train from Clones, while walking on the line on her way home from Cavan. The accident occurred at Coolbuyogue, about two miles from Cavan, where there is a sharp curve in a deep cutting. Mr. M'FADDEN, Coroner, opened the inquest at two o'clock on Saturday. A jury having been empannelled (sic). The first witness examined was Thomas BARTLY, who deposed that he is a milesman in the employment of "The Great Northern Railway;" early on Friday morning Joseph McCREERY, of Ballymacarne told him that while going along the line to a fair he saw a woman lying dead on the line at the entrance to Henry REILLY's cutting in Coolbuyogue; went to the place and found her lying about four feet from the rail on the left hand as you approach Cavan; found the half return ticket - Cavan to Redhills - (produced) in her glove and 16s. 6d. in her pocket; the police came up and they brought the remains to Mr. KENNY's barn in Rahulton; witness passed the place at six o'clock the previous evening and she was not there; believes she was killed by the seven o'clock up-train from Clones. As no person could identify the body, the inquest was adjourned until the following day. Sunday. The inquest was resumed to-day at 12 o'clock. Mr. John Francis PRUNTY, Rathmulligan, Redhills, identified the body as that of his wife, Mary Prunty, aged about thirty-five; between two and three o'clock on Friday last deceased left his house alone for the purpose of traveling by rail from Redhills station to Cavan to consult Dr. MATHEWS about her health; he expected her to return by the rain leaving Cavan at 5:15 p.m.; she told him when going away that if Dr. Mathews would not be at home she would stop all night with her friend Mrs. CLERKIN; she had £1 going away; 16s. 6d. was found on her body; she was of strictly temperate habits; about three o'clock on yesterday he heard from a policeman that his wife had met with an accident; came over here and found that she had been killed; deceased left one child who will be six years old in May; doesn't believe she met with foul play; is of opinion he would be a trespasser if he were found walking on the line; but cannot say if deceased had the same knowledge; there is a "public pad" along the line for more than seven years; believes his wife met her death by a railway train passing over her; the half return ticket - Cavan to Redhills (produced) found on her would have been taken up at Redhills if she had traveled in the train all right to Redhills. Constable DOLAN was on "train duty" that day; when returning to the barracks, after seeing the 5:15 p.m. train off to Clones, he met deceased at the Waterside; she asked him if the Clones train had gone, he said it had, and that there was no other train for Clones that night; she appeared disappointed and said, "My God, what will I do. Must I walk," and hurried off towards the railway station; she was perfectly sober. To a juror - I never saw her before. I saw her dead body and am sure she is the person. John BRADY (platform porter at Cavan) saw deceased standing on the platform after the departure of the 5:15 p.m. train for Clones; she asked him if it had been long gone; he said about twenty minutes; she was lamenting having to walk home to Redhills; he told her to go to the Post office and that she could get on the mail car, which leaves at half-past six, to within a mile and a half of her home; witness was sent to Cavan on business and didn't see her any more; they don't allow anyone to walk on the line, but it is impossible to keep them off. John MAGUIRE (milesman) has charge of the first three miles of the line; he lives at Ballymacarne crossing, about a quarter of a mile from where the body was found; about half an hour before the last train came up from Clones he saw a female walking down the centre of the line from Cavan; he told her a train was coming up from Clones inside half an hour, and ordered her off the line; she went towards the gate and he went into his house; he cannot say whether she went off the line or not; he "warns off" every person he sees walking on the line. Dr. MALCOMSON deposed that he examined the body of deceased, and found an extensive contused wound of the left arm, about two inches below the shoulder joint, almost severing the arm from the trunk; the wound was sufficient to cause death in a few moments; there were some contusions about her face and lip, which, he believes, were caused by falling on the stones; portion of a train or some other heavy body passing over a person would cause such injuries as she presented; she died from shock to the nervous system combined with hemorrhage. James TATE drove the engine on every train which passed ovedr the line between the time deceased was seen at the Railway Station and the finding of her body at Coolbuyogue; he did not see any signal or sign, hear any shout, see any person on the line, or feel any hitch or lurch. To Head-Constable STORY - We passed the place about 7:12 p.m.; it was then quite dark as there was a shower of snow coming on. To a Juror - It is not my duty to whistle when we are going near a curve. Mr. ARAMSTRONG (solicitor) and Mr. ATWELL (station-master) offered to produce any servant of the company the coroner or jury might wish to examine. The enquiry closed, and after deliberating for about half an hour returned a verdict to the effect; "That deceased was killed by a railway train passing over her." Deceased was eldest daughter of Mr. John LEE, Lattaglohan, Stradone. Her remains were interred in Lavey burying ground on Sunday night. (County Cavan Newspaper Transcription Project)