Sharing the history of the Four Courts, Dublin, Ireland, 1796-1950
From the Freeman’s Journal, 29 September 1879:
On Saturday morning at ten o’clock Richard D Lawless, solicitor, formerly resident in Lower Mount Street, was found dead in his bed, at the house No 4 Mecklenburgh-street. Deceased sixteen years ago was a member of a respectable and thriving firm of attorneys on Usher’s Quay. After a time the partnership was dissolved, and Richard Lawless practised his profession on his own account for a year or two, when he suddenly disappeared
From the Freeman’s Journal, 16 December 1874:
“To the Editor of the Freeman.
SIR – Would you kindly insert the following in the interest of the grievances of attorneys’ apprentices. The facts are briefly these:- In the second week of last month a sessional examination was held at the Four Courts to test the knowledge of the apprentices who attended the professors of law lectures during the preceding year. No official announcement of the result has yet been afforded, and
From the Freeman’s Journal, 19 February 1923:
“INDOMITABLE COURAGE
RAIDERS FOUGHT BY CARLOW SOLICITOR
TABLES TURNED
INTRUDERS SHOT: ONE KILLED
Sensational to an almost incredible degree is the account that has just come to hand of experiences that befell Mr Edward S Maffett, a Co Carlow solicitor, and his family some time ago.
Held at the point of the gun by two men, who were ransacking his house, he succeeded in eluding his captors, armed himself with an automatic pistol, and in the most dramatic
From the Weekly Telegraph, September 5, 1925:
“Unlucky Thirteen – Belfast Solicitors Hoaxed
An extraordinary hoax has been carried out on at least thirteen Belfast solicitors, as a result of which a person about whom the police are now enquiring, is believed to be richer to the extent of about £220.
The ruse to obtain the money is a very old one, and was explained to a ‘Telegraph’ representative by Mr George Pollock, solicitor, who, more fortunate than some of his colleagues,
From the Nottingham Journal, 11 September 1928:
‘An Irish solicitor, Mr NC Caruth, of Ballymona (Co Antrim) left a curious request in his will just proved. He directed that if any of his sons were abroad at the time of his death no false telegram shall be sent announcing his death, but his wife should write a letter to each son giving details and any message he might have, stating “I make this rather peculiar request as I have had experience in my lifetime of receiving telegrams
From the Mail, 15 August 1906:
“DUBLIN SOLICITOR AND HIS LADY TYPISTS
In the Probate and Matrimonial Division, today, in the case of Fitzgerald v Fitzgerald, known as the Waterford matrimonial case, Mr Rice applied on behalf of the male petitioner for an order directing Mr Shannon, the solicitor on the other side, to give the male petitioner copies of certain documents, discovery of which had been obtained so far back as the 25th July last
Mr Shannon said he had some difficulty in giving them
A very early Irish legal story, from Pue’s Occurrences, 31 January 1719:
“About 3 quarters after 2 in the Afternoon, Mr Leigh, eldest Son of Richard Leigh Esq of the County of Westmeath, and one Mr Smith, Son to Mr Smith, at the Sun near Smithfield (who served his Time to an Attorney, and was to be Sworn an Attorney next day) Fought in the Tholsel of this City. Mr Leigh was run into the Left Breast and died in a Minute after. The same Night the Coroner’s Inquest
From the Belfast Telegraph, 26 October 1932:
“Passengers on the RMS Scotia from Dun Laoghaire (Kingstown) to Holyhead on Tuesday night witnessed the rescue of an Irish solicitor, Mr O’Connor. It appears that somewhere about mid-channel he fell overboard. The ship was stopped and one of the lifeboats lowered, and after a time Mr O’Connor was got safely into the lifeboat. After the lifeboat was hoisted up the vessel proceeded on her way to Holyhead.
The Scotia was travelling
From the Freeman’s Journal, 9 January 1892:
“A DUBLIN BREACH OF PROMISE CASE
Yesterday Master Pigott sat in the Master’s office to hear a case of Lee v Doyle. The defendant, describing himself as Richard Lee, solicitor’s assistant, 17 Walton Terrace, Drumcondra Park Upper, sued Miss Marion Doyle, 15 Kenmare Park, spinster, to recover £100 damages for breach of promise.
The plaintiff and defendant appeared in person without professional advisors.
When the case was called only
From the Kerry Evening Post, 19 June 1886:
“The public who are conversant with the facts of the sudden and mysterious disappearance in London of Mr Alfred M Bernard, Solicitor, of Sheheree, near Killarney, where he was on official business, entertain the gravest apprehension that he met with foul play, and, indeed, everything surrounding the circumstances point to this end. His immediate friends, however, look upon the affair in a totally different light, believing that he must