A long conversation then ensued, but Mr. O'Malley could only elicit
that Brady had, of his own accord, informed his master of all he knew
on the subject, and that he had done so because he thought it right.
He admitted, however, that Mr. Keegan had expressed a desire that the
prisoner might be hung. A great many questions were then asked as to
the present holding of Ballycloran, to which Brady answered, stating
with tolerable accuracy the manner in which Larry at present lived
on the property, and the hold which Keegan had upon it. He, moreover,
stated that the house was in a very bad state of repair, and that
most of the tenants who were left on the property were unable to
pay their rent. He then, after much hesitation, owned that he had
overheard what had taken place between Keegan and Thady in the
avenue, on the day when the attorney had called at Ballycloran--that
he had heard the name which Keegan had applied to Feemy, and that he
had seen the manner in which Thady had been struck.
He was then asked whether he himself had not cautioned Thady against
Ussher, telling him the reports that were going through the country
as to Ussher's treatment of his sister. This he denied, stating that
it wasn't probable that "the likes of him should go to speak to his
masther about such things as that." He was repeatedly questioned on
this point, but Mr. O'Malley could not shake his evidence. Brady,
however, owned that in talking to Thady about Ussher, he had called
the latter "a black Protestant," and that he had always spoken ill of
him; "and now," continued Mr. O'Malley, "I don't wish to ask you any
questions by answering which you will criminate yourself; but you
have already said that you have been a visitor at Mrs. Mulready's
shop?"
"Oh yes, I've been there."
"And you have been there when certain persons swore that before
twelve months were passed, Captain Ussher should be under the sod?"
"Yes; I swear I heard thim words, and saw the boys take the oath."
"But to the best of your belief the prisoner was never at this house
when such an oath was taken?"
"Is it Mr. Thady? He was niver at mother Mulready's at all."
"But he met the party who had taken this oath at your sister's
wedding?"
"He did."
"And the same subject was spoken of there; was it?"
"What subject?"
"The propriety of sodding Captain Ussher?"
"I don't know about propriety."
"Well, then, the advisability of doing so?"
"Oh, yer honer, I aint no scollard. I can't make nothin' of thim long
words."
"At any rate, they talked of sodding Captain Ussher at the
wedding--didn't they?"
"I niver said so."
"Well, but did they?"
"Talk of sodding him! Faix I don't know; I don't think they said
sodding."
"Did they say killing?"
"I won't say they did."
"Or murdering?"
"No; they did not say nothin' about murdher."
"Oh; they did not say anything about murder,--or doing for him?
perhaps the prisoner and the other boys agreed to do for him?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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