THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: Drunken quarrel between two brothers results in tragic death of one

From the Belfast News Letter, June 23, 1862
An old photograph of Ballynure taken from James Campbell of Ballynure: A Weaver Poet by Richard Gwynallen from The Kitchen Table - A family history website edited by Richard GwynallenAn old photograph of Ballynure taken from James Campbell of Ballynure: A Weaver Poet by Richard Gwynallen from The Kitchen Table - A family history website edited by Richard Gwynallen
An old photograph of Ballynure taken from James Campbell of Ballynure: A Weaver Poet by Richard Gwynallen from The Kitchen Table - A family history website edited by Richard Gwynallen

A quarrel between two brothers named Hill resulted in the death of one of them from injuries received during a fight, reported the News Letter on this day in 1862.

The incident had occurred near the town of Ballynure and the paper noted, “there is every reason to believe the sad affair is attributable solely to that fruitful source of crime – intoxicating liquors”.

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The paper continued: “So far as could be gleaned from the parties on the spot, it would appear that the brothers some time ago had had a dispute about a farm of land, but that recently they had been on friendly terms.”

On the day in question the two brothers had met in Ballynure to attend a farmers’ meeting.

The paper added: “After disposing of whatever business had brought them together, the parties, following an old but very vicious custom, proceeded to the public house. It was kept by a person called McWhirter, and there they were supplied with drink.”

Shortly afterwards an argument arose between the two brothers with the deceased having claimed that he had helped keep the other on his farm.

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The paper said: “Angry words ensued but not blows were struck and the brothers left the house together.”

The two brothers then went on to a further public house before they eventually left the village.

They had not gone more than a mile before they began to quarrel again and it resulted in blows in the middle of the road.

It was during the fight that one brother kicked the other in the abdomen “which completely disabled him”.

He was brought to a nearby house where he “lingered” until the following evening and died.