December 12, 1797.
Yesterday, intelligence was received in town of the death of Colonel
Fitzgerald, who was lately guilty of a most shameful and dishonourable
act in the family of the present Earl of Kingston, by seducing a
daughter of that much respected nobleman, to whom he was allied, and in
whose family he had been a constant visitor. He met with his death in
the following manner:—
After the discovery of this unfortunate criminal intercourse, which
occurred in England, and in consequence of which a duel had taken place
between the brother of the young lady (who is now Lord Kingsborough) and
the deceased Colonel Fitzgerald, she was removed to the country
residence of her noble father, now the Earl of Kingston, at
Mitchelstown, near Kilworth, in this kingdom. The deceased, feeling no
remorse for what he had done, in dishonouring by the most artful
stratagems an illustrious family, had the audacity and hardihood to
follow the young lady to Ireland; it is supposed, with a view to wrest
her by violence from her parents; and for this purpose, took lodgings at
an inn in Kilworth.
The Colonel had been there some days before his arrival at Kilworth was
known, or the object of his expedition was discovered. He was observed
to walk out in the night, and conceal himself in the day, and the
servants at length noticed him lurking about Mitchelstown House at
unseasonable hours. Intelligence having reached Lord Kingsborough, who
had had the duel with the Colonel, and resolved to defeat his
antagonist’s project, he left his father’s house, and went to Kilworth,
where, having inquired if that gentleman was in the house, and being
informed he was, he went to the apartment he was directed to, which the
colonel lodged in. Lord Kingsborough rapped at the door, requiring
admittance. The Colonel, knowing his voice, replied, that he was locked
in, and could not open the door; but if he had anything to say to him,
he would receive it in writing under the door. This enraged the young
nobleman, and he forced open the door, and running to a case of pistols
in the room, took one, and desired the Colonel to take the other, and
defend himself, as he was resolved to have satisfaction for the scheme
the deceased had formed against his sister, and which he came to this
place to put into execution. On both seizing the pistols, they grappled
with each other, and were struggling when the Earl of Kingston, who had
been apprised of his son’s departure in pursuit of the Colonel, and
quickly followed the young lord, entered the room; and finding them in
the contest, and that his son must lose his life, from the situation the
deceased had him in, the Earl fired upon the Colonel, not, we believe,
with an intention to kill him, though his aggravation was great. The
shot, however, took effect, and the Colonel lost his life, but not
lamented by any one who has heard of his very dishonourable conduct in
this affair.