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Brawl
at the Shielbridge Inn, 1862
by John Dye
The
report below comprises transcribed handwritten material from
the office of the Procurator Fiscal of Tobermory, currently
held in the Argyll Archive at Lochgilphead.
Constable
Currie witnessed a pile of fighting bodies outside the Shielbridge
Inn, whilst walking his beat one late afternoon in the autumn.
It
transpired that Simon McDonald of Smirisary had offered to take
on any of the Gillis's and Neil, Archibald and John Gillis from
Eilean Shona were happy to oblige. Donald McDonald of Smirisary
and Alexander Kennedy of Eilean Shona also joined in.
They
were fined five shillings each.
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The police summary of the case to be made
Police Report - Assault, Salen 14 October 1862
Simon McDonald, son of and residing with his Father Angus McDonald, Farmer,
Smearisary, in the Quod-sacra parish of Aharacle and County of Inverness,
& Donald McDonald, Crofter, Smearisary, in the above named Quod-sacra
parish of Aharcle & County of Inverness, & Allan Kennedy, son
of and residing with his Father Alexander Kennedy, Crofter, Elin Shona
in the aforesaid Quod-sacra parish of Aharcle & county of Inverness,
and Neil Gillis, Archibald Gillis & John Gillis, joint Farmers in
Elin Shona in the aforesaid Quod-sacra parish of Aharcle and County of
Inverness, are charged with the crime of assaulting each other in so far
as on Thrusday the 2nd day of October 1862 years, the above named parties
did attack & assault each other with their clenched fists to the effusion
of blood near to the door of the Inn at Shiel Bridge occupied by William
Johnston in the Quod-sacra Parish of Aharcle & County of Argyll.
A detailed report of the brawl is made by Constable Currie who was
at Shiel Bridge when it happened
Evidence
Robert Currie, Constable, Ardnamurchan says:
Upon Thursday the 2nd day of October 1862 years, while on patrol duty
at Shiel Bridge about 5 p.m., a large number of people came out of the
Inn in a very disorderly state, the above named Simon McDonald had his
coat or jacket off and appeared to be in a very exited state. He said
that he would fight any of the Gillis's.
I then saw Donald McDonald come & stand near to him, shortly after
I saw a large crowd of people on the top of each other on the road engaged
in fighting. Upon enquiry I found their names to the above named Simon
McDonald, Allan Kennedy and Neil Gillis, Archibald Gillis and John Gillis.
I saw Neil Gillis bleeding from a cut on his cheek. Later I saw Archibald
Gillis bleeding from a cut on his nose. I saw the above said Donald McDonald
deliberately strike at Neil Gillis several blows with his clenched fists,
the evidence of William Johnston Jun. I sent to you.
Robert Currie, District Constable.
There were other witnesses too
Witnesses
William Johnston Inn Keeper, Shiel Bridge
Matthew Johnston Shiel Bridge, Labourer
Walter Johnston Do. Do. Do.
John Johnston Do. Do. Do.
William Johnston Jun. Do. Do. Do.
William Corbet Samilaman, Moydart
Appended notes give the details:
Simon McDonald & others
Breach of Peace
14 October 1862
Tobermory 28th October 1862
Tried Summarily
Plea - Guilty
Sentence - Fined 5/- each or 5 days Impt. 30/- in all.
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