Sharing the history of the Four Courts, Dublin, Ireland
The annual State Trials for conspiracy and treason were a very exciting time at the nineteenth-century Four Courts.
Many members of the public of all political persuasions attended to observe and comment. All tried to put their best face forward. None more so than the Judges. The style of their arrival on such occasions was so impressive as to merit the above illustration in the popular press. Not only were the judicial means of transport slightly different from today,
From the Freeman’s Journal, 7 June 1853:
“A man named John Whitaker was… charged with having stolen a large number of briefs and a law book the property of Messrs. Robinson, QC, Robert Owen Lawson, JF Martley and McCarthy, barristers.
It appeared that a person named McDonnell had been employed by several barristers to carry their brief bags to the Four Courts every morning during term. Having called as usual some mornings since he got four of these bags into his care, and
From the Dublin Evening Post, 22 June 1824, a story of young love’s triumph over parental opposition:
“Mr Sheil… moved for a Habeas Corpus against William Ormsby, the Marshal of the Four Courts, commanding him to bring up the body of his daughter, Jane Ormsby.
Mr Sheil said, that he moved upon the affidavit of Nicholas William Whyte, which stated, that he became acquainted with Miss Ormsby, about fourteen months ago, at Booterstown, and was introduced to her father and mother,