On This Day / January 19, 1921
Go BackReproduced with permission from The Irish News.
19210119
Reference Date
19210119
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 19th January 1921, a Cork execution was postponed as a court invoked the precedent of Wolfe Tone’s trial, recalling the 1798 rebel’s capture, condemnation and death after self-inflicted wounds. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
Wolfe Tone Cited in Trial | On This Day – 19th January 1921
THE execution of Joseph Murphy of Cork, found guilty by Court martial of the murder of Private Squibbs in an ambush in the city, is being postponed until Wednesday, pending the hearing of an application on behalf of the condemned man.
The Court followed the precedent laid down by Lord Kilwarden in the case of Wolfe Tone, as reported in the State Trials, in making his order.
Mr Justice Gibson’s remark regarding the ‘precedent of the Wolfe Tone case’ [in 1798] recalls Wolfe Tone’s trial and death.
It recalls the circumstances under which the founder of the United Irish Society was taken prisoner at Lough Swilly when Bompart’s little expedition was captured by the British fleet on October 11, 1798.
Tone was a Chef de Brigade (a colonel) of the French Army and wore the uniform of his rank.
When his ship [The Hoche] surrendered, the officers were taken ashore of prisoners-of-war.
A local landlord named Sir George Hill recognised Tone. Hill was a magistrate in Derry and leader of the Orange Party.
He accosted the Irish leader, saying: ‘Mr Tone, I am very happy to see you!’
Tone calmly replied: ‘Sir George, I am glad to see you, how are Lady Hill and your family?’
But the gallant organiser knew at the moment that Hill had written his death sentence.
Tone was arrested and brought to Dublin in irons – despite his protest against the indignity offered to his uniform.
The gallant Sir John Moore, who afterwards fell at Corunna, recorded his admiration of Tone at his court martial.
Tone declined troubling them with any defence, stating: ‘Under the flag of the French Republic I originally engaged with a view to save and liberate my own country. …
“But I hear it said that this unfortunate country has been a prey to all sorts of horrors. I sincerely lament it. …
“I designed by fair and open war, to procure the separation of the two countries….’
Tone was condemned to be hanged on 12th November 1798. However, a few days later the Sheriff was informed that ‘Mr Tone – who had wounded himself dangerously in the neck the night before – was not in a condition to be removed [to execution]. He died the following morning.
(Eamon Phoenix editor’s note: The defeat of the French fleet at Lough Swilly and the tragic death of Wolfe Tone (1763-98) marked the effective end of the 1798 Rebellion.
The guns of his ship, La Hoche were used to defend Fort Dunree, a formidable military fort on Lough Swilly which remained a key British base and, later, ‘Treaty port’ until 1938.)
On This Day – 19th January 1921
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19210119
Reference Date
19210119
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 19th January 1921, a Cork execution was postponed as a court invoked the precedent of Wolfe Tone’s trial, recalling the 1798 rebel’s capture, condemnation and death after self-inflicted wounds. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
Wolfe Tone Cited in Trial | On This Day – 19th January 1921
THE execution of Joseph Murphy of Cork, found guilty by Court martial of the murder of Private Squibbs in an ambush in the city, is being postponed until Wednesday, pending the hearing of an application on behalf of the condemned man.
The Court followed the precedent laid down by Lord Kilwarden in the case of Wolfe Tone, as reported in the State Trials, in making his order.
Mr Justice Gibson’s remark regarding the ‘precedent of the Wolfe Tone case’ [in 1798] recalls Wolfe Tone’s trial and death.
It recalls the circumstances under which the founder of the United Irish Society was taken prisoner at Lough Swilly when Bompart’s little expedition was captured by the British fleet on October 11, 1798.
Tone was a Chef de Brigade (a colonel) of the French Army and wore the uniform of his rank.
When his ship [The Hoche] surrendered, the officers were taken ashore of prisoners-of-war.
A local landlord named Sir George Hill recognised Tone. Hill was a magistrate in Derry and leader of the Orange Party.
He accosted the Irish leader, saying: ‘Mr Tone, I am very happy to see you!’
Tone calmly replied: ‘Sir George, I am glad to see you, how are Lady Hill and your family?’
But the gallant organiser knew at the moment that Hill had written his death sentence.
Tone was arrested and brought to Dublin in irons – despite his protest against the indignity offered to his uniform.
The gallant Sir John Moore, who afterwards fell at Corunna, recorded his admiration of Tone at his court martial.
Tone declined troubling them with any defence, stating: ‘Under the flag of the French Republic I originally engaged with a view to save and liberate my own country. …
“But I hear it said that this unfortunate country has been a prey to all sorts of horrors. I sincerely lament it. …
“I designed by fair and open war, to procure the separation of the two countries….’
Tone was condemned to be hanged on 12th November 1798. However, a few days later the Sheriff was informed that ‘Mr Tone – who had wounded himself dangerously in the neck the night before – was not in a condition to be removed [to execution]. He died the following morning.
(Eamon Phoenix editor’s note: The defeat of the French fleet at Lough Swilly and the tragic death of Wolfe Tone (1763-98) marked the effective end of the 1798 Rebellion.
The guns of his ship, La Hoche were used to defend Fort Dunree, a formidable military fort on Lough Swilly which remained a key British base and, later, ‘Treaty port’ until 1938.)
On This Day – 19th January 1921
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19210119
Reference Date
January 19, 2021
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice *
Summary: On This Day – 19th January 1921, a Cork execution was postponed as a court invoked the precedent of Wolfe Tone’s trial, recalling the 1798 rebel’s capture, condemnation and death after self-inflicted wounds. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
Wolfe Tone Cited in Trial | On This Day – 19th January 1921
THE execution of Joseph Murphy of Cork, found guilty by Court martial of the murder of Private Squibbs in an ambush in the city, is being postponed until Wednesday, pending the hearing of an application on behalf of the condemned man.
The Court followed the precedent laid down by Lord Kilwarden in the case of Wolfe Tone, as reported in the State Trials, in making his order.
Mr Justice Gibson’s remark regarding the ‘precedent of the Wolfe Tone case’ [in 1798] recalls Wolfe Tone’s trial and death.
It recalls the circumstances under which the founder of the United Irish Society was taken prisoner at Lough Swilly when Bompart’s little expedition was captured by the British fleet on October 11, 1798.
Tone was a Chef de Brigade (a colonel) of the French Army and wore the uniform of his rank.
When his ship [The Hoche] surrendered, the officers were taken ashore of prisoners-of-war.
A local landlord named Sir George Hill recognised Tone. Hill was a magistrate in Derry and leader of the Orange Party.
He accosted the Irish leader, saying: ‘Mr Tone, I am very happy to see you!’
Tone calmly replied: ‘Sir George, I am glad to see you, how are Lady Hill and your family?’
But the gallant organiser knew at the moment that Hill had written his death sentence.
Tone was arrested and brought to Dublin in irons – despite his protest against the indignity offered to his uniform.
The gallant Sir John Moore, who afterwards fell at Corunna, recorded his admiration of Tone at his court martial.
Tone declined troubling them with any defence, stating: ‘Under the flag of the French Republic I originally engaged with a view to save and liberate my own country. …
“But I hear it said that this unfortunate country has been a prey to all sorts of horrors. I sincerely lament it. …
“I designed by fair and open war, to procure the separation of the two countries….’
Tone was condemned to be hanged on 12th November 1798. However, a few days later the Sheriff was informed that ‘Mr Tone – who had wounded himself dangerously in the neck the night before – was not in a condition to be removed [to execution]. He died the following morning.
(Eamon Phoenix editor’s note: The defeat of the French fleet at Lough Swilly and the tragic death of Wolfe Tone (1763-98) marked the effective end of the 1798 Rebellion.
The guns of his ship, La Hoche were used to defend Fort Dunree, a formidable military fort on Lough Swilly which remained a key British base and, later, ‘Treaty port’ until 1938.)
On This Day – 19th January 1921
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
On This Day is a daily column in the Irish News looking back either 50 or 100 years. The column was compiled by Dr Éamon Phoenix from the mid 1980s until autumn, 2022. The Foundation is very grateful to the Irish News for giving permission to reproduce Eamon’s columns. Funding gratefully received from Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and the Magill Trust.
* The Foundation has worked hard to recreate Eamon’s distinctive voice through AI. Since this is an emerging technology, occasional imperfections may be audible.