A note from the Journal of the Cork Archaeological and Historical Society (1904): As related by W. H. Maxwell in his "Wild Sports of the West of lreland" (Lon.,1832). It is asserted, but with what truth I cannot pretend to state, that the inhabitants of (the Island of) Inniskea are prone to litigation, and a curious legend of a lawsuit is told upon the main, illustrative of this their quarrelsome. disposition. A century ago, two persons were remarkable here for superior opulence, and had become the envy and wonder of their poorer neighbours. Their wealth consisted of a flock of sheep, when, un- fortunately, some trifling dispute occurring between them, a dissolution of partnership was agreed upon. To divide the flock one would suppose, would not be difficult, and they proceeded to partition the flock accordingly. They possessed one hundred and one sheep, fifty fell to each proprietor, but the odd one-how was it to he disposed of? Neither would part with his moiety to the other, and after a long and angry negotiation, the animal was left in common property between them. Although the season had not come round when sheep are usually shorn, one of the proprietors requiring wool for a pair of stockings, proposed that the fleece should be taken off. This was resisted by his co-partner, and the point was finally settled by shearing one side of the animal. Only a few days after, the sheep was found dead in a deep ditch: one party ascribed the accident to the cold feelings of the animal having urged him to seek a shelter in the fatal trench ; while the other contended that the wool remaining upon one side had caused the 'wether' to lose its equilibrium, and that thus the melancholy catastrophe was occasioned. The parties went to law directly, and the expenses of the suit actually devoured the produce of the entire flock, and reduced both to a state of utter beggar. Their descendants are pointed out to this day as being the poorest of the community, and litigants are frequently warned to avoid the fate of Malley and Malone. Much may be, and undoubtedly was, said on both sides, but the judgement has not been handed down. The law of England applicable to such cases is dependent altogether on the evidence adduced as to the facts. An Irish brehon applying his rigid code would have felt very confident of his decision in such a case. The Brehon Law Code provided for such like extraordinary causes of action-see "The Book of Aicill," p. 375.