The following short note will give a better idea of the state of this
part of the country than any lengthened description:--
"_Riverston, 8th Feb_.
"SIR,--_Half-a-dozen_ starvation deaths have been reported to Mr. Grant
this evening, and he directs me to write to you to request you will
attend here early to-morrow morning to hold inquests.
"JAMES HAY, _Head Constable_.
"Alexander Burrows, Esq."
But things were much worse than was revealed by this note. Mr. Burrows
was quite unequal to the work he had to do. In one day, although he
tired three horses, he succeeded in holding only five inquests. Poor
progress indeed, inasmuch as there were FORTY dead bodies in the
district of Managharrow alone, awaiting him! One of the cases, that of
Owen Mulrooney, was a moving one. He was a young, muscular man, in the
prime of life. He had a wife and five young children. Here is the
substance of his wife's depositions at the inquest held upon his
remains. She sold all her little furniture for ten shillings, and with
this sum she and her five children left home to make her way to England,
as she thought her husband would be able to support himself, if
unencumbered by her and the family.
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