Schoolmaster Charged with Robbery
The following extract is from the Belfast Newsletter dated Thursday September 26th 1861 and appears with permission of the Belfast Newsletter.
Extraordinary Robbery – The National Schoolmaster Adair – Saturday last, as reported in our paper of Monday, a National schoolmaster, named Adair, of Dundrod, was committed to jail to take his trial at the approaching Quarter Sessions on a charge of having to break into a pawn office of Mr. Jenkins, Mill Street and Marquis Street. This charge, and the circumstance connected with it, would appear sufficient on one occasion; but it seems the accused did not limit himself to the attempt on the pawn-office that day. Since Monday last inspector McIlroy has been enabled to trace out other acts of the accused committed on the morning of Friday last – the same day as that on which he attacked Mr. Jenkin’s premises. It appears that Adair spent Thursday night last in an improper house in Caddell’s Entry, and that he left after him in the house a receipt for £4 1s 6d paid that day to Mr. Spackman for a suit of clothes. He took his departure from cad dell’s Entry at an early hour and the females with whom he stayed all night accuse him with having stolen two blankets and several articles of female apparel. Having got the receipt, with the name Adair in it, Inspector McIlroy considered he had a clue to the robbery, and, on visiting the pawn-offices, he found that all the articles stolen out of the house of ill-fame in Caddell’s Entry had been pawned on Friday morning, in one of the pawn-houses by Adair. Whether it will be thought necessary to return informations in this case also is, of course, a question for the authorities; but all the proceedings of the accused reveal a most extraordinary course of conduct to be pursued by anyone possessed of reason, and especially by one well-educated, and occupying a respectable position in society. Those acquainted with the accused attribute it all to the influence of drink – not merely its influence at the time, but its effects on the system during a prior period.
The following extract is from the Belfast Newsletter dated Monday 21st October 1861 and appears with permission of the Belfast Newsletter.
Attempting to enter a pawn-office "Fruits of the bottle."
Joseph Adair, alias Johnson, was indicted with having attempted to break and enter the house of James Jenkins with intent to steal.
It will be remembered that this case was up a short time ago before the magistrates, and that the prisoner was a schoolmaster at Dundrod, and that Mr. Jenkins is a pawnbroker in Belfast.
Mr. Birnie and Mr. Seeds prosecuted; and Mr. McLean appeared for the defence.
Mrs. O’Neill deposed to having seen the prisoner working at the door with something, and her husband went for Mr. Jenkins.
Mr. Jenkins deposed to the safe state in which he left his door, and the injured state in which he found it.
Constable Irwin, examined by Mr. Birney – Saw the door of Mr. Jenkin’s pawn-office on the night in question. It was broken about the lock. Arrested the prisoner in a lodging-house opposite the door. Found this sort of chisel (produced) in his pocket. Brought it and compared it with the marks in the door, and found them all to correspond with it. Believed they were made with it. Cautioned the prisoner after arresting him, and he told witness that he was not in that street that day.
The witness was cross-examined by Mr. McLean, on the part of the prisoner, to show that he was labouring under delirium tremens.
Mr. McLean addressed the Court and jury for the defence, and contended that the man was not attempting "to break and enter" the shop, "with intent to steal." The evidence could not satisfy the jury that there was any guilty intention, and he would ask them to acquit the prisoner.
Rev. Mr. Magill, Presbyterian minister, Dundrod, was examined by Mr. McLean – Knew the prisoner for twenty years. He was a teacher under the National Board until his arrest. He was a very respectable man, and he taught an academy ten years in Cork. He has been back two years at Dundrod school. Knew nothing wrong of him at any time. Witness thought latterly that the prisoner was giving way to drink. Witness watched him perhaps the more closely, because that witness has been for several years a total abstainer on principle, and opposed drinking intoxicating drinks in any form. Could account for the prisoner’s conduct on no grounds but those of the man being under the influence of drink. He was under the influence of drink when he left Dundrod. He sometimes borrowed a chisel from Mrs. Magill to fix the school-room windows, and he broke it at one time and then he said he would buy one when he went to Belfast.
The Chairman then charged the jury, who retired for a short time and returned a verdict of not guilty. The Chairman, before ordering the prisoner to be discharged, cautioned him as to his future conduct, and remarked that there was no doubt but he was led to the dock by drink; and, feeling that to be so, he trusted the prisoner would see and give up the practice which had brought so much trouble and disgrace upon him.
The prisoner was then discharged, and the Court adjourned until Monday morning.
Views of the old Dundrod National School
View of the old Dundrod National School
View of the old Dundrod National School
View of the old Dundrod National School
Dundrod Primary School Extension
The following is an extract from the Ulster Star on 27th April 1963 and is used with permission of the paper.
Extension for Dundrod Primary
A plot of ground, containing one rood, has been brought for £50 from the Trustees of Dundrod Presbyterian Church for the purpose of extending Dundrod Primary School.