118
SHIANA
Kate.—It certainly was, but how could it have been helped?
Sheila.—I think people should look before them, and not do what is unfair and wrong.
Kate.—You are quite right, Sheila, they should. But that does not alter the fact that many a man has been wrongfully hanged without anyone being able to help it.
Abbie.—I have heard that a man was hanged wrongfully like that, west near Rathmore, long ago, the time the Whiteboys broke into the coach and killed the man who was guard to it.
Nora.—What need had they to kill him, Abbie?
Abbie.—The fact was, they thought the coachman had a paper containing the names of all the leaders of the Whiteboys, and that when the coach reached Tralee, soldiers would be sent out, and every man whose name was in that paper would be arrested and hanged. What they planned was to waylay the coach and to take away the paper, either by consent or by force. When they asked for the paper, all the guard did was to fire at them. They had fire-arms as well as he, and they fired at him, and he fell dead on the road. The next morning a poor old man, who used to be herding near the place, walked out upon the road, and when he saw the dead man he stopped to look at him with terror in his eyes. Just then the soldiers came up, and the old man was taken, and a gallows was put up at once to hang him.
Sheila.—But why hang him without cause?
Abbie.—Believe me, Sheila, those fellows didn't care whether there was a cause for it or not.
