The continued frequency o...
I ne c'Oltinued frequency of trials for murder in Ire- land is an wffietirg evidence rf the unappeased condition of that country. Pplicemen v,erethe nxurderers il lour last assize report; arlo in the present one, the murdered party is a Policeman. At the assizes of Cork, four men were tried; and one, named Linehan, found guilty of hav- ing deliberately way-lait and put to death a constable of the narne of Orpen, on the 7th of last December, for no other crime that appears on evidence but that of belonging to the police. The principal witness was, on his own sho1wing, -a confirmed Whiteboy and robber, and an aeces- sory, so far as intention went, to the particular atrocity on *Vhicha he bore testimony against others. In collateral 'points, his evidence was contoborated by that of credible Persons; but to the actual participation of Linehan in the tUrder, no one cise ventured to speak. It isa pity for the I geod repute of justice, in a country like Ireland, so sus-^ licious of the law, ihat the life of man must ever be per- mnitted to haii on the wvord of a notorious reprobate: that it is uravoidablev, we confess; but the people do not think so, A scene of another character, and somewhat dra*natic for so grave a tribunal, took place at the De,-ry assiizesq when the trials of the several parties whqo had been en- gaged ih the bloody riots of Mlaghent were about to be l?roceeded in. Trhe prisoners, Orange anid Riband, having nhaken h.a,us in ilie dock, the counsel on both sides ad- lresse- the Court for the purpose. of inducing -it to dis- cl'.drga them all, on the assurance of their going home in peace ; pledging themselyes to live friends and neighbours;. keeping clear of factious processions; and, in the event ot their ithnmediateliberation, abi.taining from] every show and symptom of triumph. The. Judge felt it politic to adorpt this co-ntrse-the misguided tmien of both parties gave the required pledges-appeared in their intercourse with each other cordially disposedl to Forget and forgive; and so leng as the remnembrance of their past fright shall not be obliterated.. mnay perhaps repress the inherent spirit of animosity, fos- tered, we lament to say, for selfisb purposes, bv individuals who lniow, and vlb ought to' have practised better.