January, 2021

As previously published Henry “Bounce” Walsh was hanged on 1 September 1847 for the murder of John Walsh  near Bishop’s Hall, in what was sometimes referred to as the Black Corner murder. Notwithstanding the circumstantial evidence presented in the court, Henry “Bounce” Walsh asserted to the very end that he was not guilty of the murder. Thanks to Beth Tykodi who shared the article on the “Bouncer” Walshes, which was published on 20 January 1846, as it led to locating other pre-murder newspaper articles with information concerning Henry “Bounce” Walsh as well as the name of his father and a brother. These newspaper accounts are often contradictory and confusing. Unfortunately this was common in newspaper accounts from the mid-nineteenth century. For the previous blog posts concerning the murder trial see; https://glenmore-history.com/the-murder-trial-of-henry-bounce-walsh-of-knockbrach-glenmore/ and for the execution see: https://glenmore-history.com/the-public-execution-of-henry-bounce-walsh-in-1847/ .

Convicted of Assault

In July 1845, Henry “Bounce” Walsh was arrested and charged with assaulting Mr. Gregory Lymbery. The following article appeared in the Waterford Chronicle and reveals that Bounce and another defendant both committed assaults and received similar sentences with one distinction. The other defendant assaulted a constable and was sentenced to hard labour.

“COUNTY COURT-Tuesday…Chief Justice Doherty” heard the following: “Daniel Maher, stood charged with an assault of a policeman at Abbeyside, while in the discharge of his duty. The prisoner pleaded guilty, and said, that but for being drunk on the night in question, he would not have interfered. Six months imprisonment, with bard labour.  Henry Walsh was next put forward for an assault on Mr. Gregory Lymbery. He also pleaded as an excuse, that he was drunk on the night he committed the assault, and could not recollect, whether he committed the assault or not, but supposed he did.  Six months imprisonment.” (Waterford Chronicle, Wed. 16 July 1845, p. 3)

Release from Jail & Victim of an Assault

On the day Henry “Bounce” Walsh was released from jail, the 15^th of January 1846, having served his time for the assault on Mr. Lymbery, his brother John and his father Walter brought him some clothes. (Waterford Mail, 3 March 1846, p. 2) Thereafter, Bounce, John and Walter Walsh went drinking.  On their way home “Bounce,” his father and brother were the victims of serious assaults. The article from Saunder’s New Letter (Dublin) (20 January 1846, p. 3) provides:

“DESPERATE ASSAULT—An assault, which, we regret to say, is in one instance likely to prove fatal, was committed Thursday night, about ten o’clock, on the persons of Walter Walsh, John Walsh, and Henry Walsh, the father and two sons, better known by the nickname of “The Bouncers,” and famous for their pugnacious propensities. They are residents of a place called Catsrock, about six miles from this city, in the County of Kilkenny. The occurrence took place at the county Kilkenny side of the bridge, near Alderman Forristal’s residence, and the parties by whom the injuries were inflicted are named Thomas Grant, John Halligan, James Power and James Brien. The weapon used was a bar of iron about three and a half feet long by two inches broad. Those parties are also natives of the county Kilkenny, and it appears the affray arose from a dispute of long standing. The Walshes are desperately wounded. Henry’s life is almost despaired of, and it is strange fact that he was only after being discharged from gaol on the same day, where he was confined for a wanton assault on Gregory Lymbery, Esq. Intimation of the circumstances having been given to Sergeant M’Coy, who was on duty on the Quay, he immediately proceeded to the opposite side of the bridge, and aided by his party, removed the wounded man to the police barrack, and then pursued the other parties, whom he succeeded in arresting. Grant was identified as the person who had used the bar of iron. The Walshes were removed to the Leper Hospital, and the others were on yesterday brought before the magistrates at petty sessions, and committed until the result of the injuries will be known.—Waterford Mail”

The Waterford Chronicle provided a slightly different account and falsely reported that Walter Walsh died of his injuries. This account provides that Grant, Bryan, Halligan or Hannigan and Power resided in Curraghmore, Slieverue.

“MURDER. On Thursday night about 10 o’clock four men named Thomas Grant, John Halligan, James Bryan, James Power, were proceeding from Waterford to Curraghmore, in the County Kilkenny, their residence, they had not proceeded far beyond the bridge when they overtook three men named John Walsh, Henry Walsh, and Walter Walsh. On coming up with the Walshes the attack commenced, and is stated that one the persons now in custody named Thomas Grant committed fearful havoc on the Walshes, whom he strewed about the road, with a heavy piece of new iron he had in his car. As soon as the alarm was given, Constable M’Coy and some of his men pursued the assailants, whom they succeeded in capturing, and conveyed them hack to the police barracks at Ferrybank, and also the sufferers whom they found bleeding on the road. After arriving at the barracks the sufferers identified prisoners as the persons who assaulted them. On seeing one the prisoners (Thomas Grant), Walter in identifying him said, “oh, it was you who slaughtered all with the bar of iron.” On yesterday, the prisoners were brought before the magistrates, they were identified by constable M’Coy, whose evidence corresponds with what we have stated. The prisoners were remanded. One of the Walsh’s an old man, died yesterday evening in the Leper Hospital, where his fellow sufferers are lying in a hopeless state. (Waterford Chronicle, Sat. 17, 1846, p. 3)

The trial of Thomas Grant and James Brien was held on Friday the 27^th of February 1846 in the City Court of Waterford. Although the previous accounts implied that there were three Walsh victims and four defendants only two men stood trial for a “felonious assault, with intent to do some bodily injury, on the person of Walter Walsh.”  The following account is from the Waterford Mail (3 March 1846, p. 2).

“Spring Assizes (City Court—Friday, before Honourable Justice Ball). Thomas Grant and James Brien were indicted for a felonious assault, with intent to do some bodily injury, on the person of Walter Walsh.

 Walter Walsh examined—Is a farmer; lives at Cat’s Rock; has six sons; was in Waterford on the 15^th January last; went to bring his son some clothes, as he was coming that day out of jail for having committed an assault on Mr. Lymbery; left Waterford about 8 o’clock that evening in company with two sons, Henry and John; when he came to the bridge; at the end where Mr. Forristal lives, witness was beaten on the head with a bar of iron by four men whom he met there; believes he got but one blow; when witness got the blow; Henry was struck and knocked down; he saw his sons that night in the police barrack, and they were sent to the hospital.

Henry Walsh examined—Is son to Watt Walsh; was coming from Waterford with his father and brother, and went over the bridge; when opposite Forristal’s house, witness was struck on the head with a bar of iron by Thomas Grant; Brien was with Grant, and was the first person who caught witness by the coat—[witness here identified the prisoners]—after witness was struck down with the bar of iron he became insensible, and did not speak until the morning after.

John Walsh deposed that he was with his father and brother going over the bridge on the evening in question; when at the other side of the bridge he saw three men together, the two prisoner and John Hannigan; witness caught hold of the bar of iron to defend himself when Tom Grant was about striking him with it; immediately he let go the iron bar, and was struck on the head with it and knocked down; his father and brother were down before himself; he was waiting for his father and brother at the old hotel of Mr. Forristal, when, thinking his father and brother were delaying too long, witness turned back and saw five men together his father, brother, the two traversers, and Hannigan; his father and brother were struck down, and witness was knocked down afterwards.

James Power examined—Saw Hannigan and Henry Walsh coming over the bridge staggering; they handled each other when they came over the bridge opposite Forristal’s door; Tom Grant and Jimmy Brien stood by; saw a bar of iron in Tom Grant’s hand; saw Hannigan strike John Walsh with the iron bar; he was the last man knocked down; all the parties had been drinking; heard nothing of a quarrel between them.

Laurence Sullivan examined—Remembers the night when the Walshs were beaten; accompanied the traversers over the bridge; was shaking hands with Henry Walsh and bidding him goodbye, when Hannigan struck Henry Walsh two blows with his fist; saw a bar of iron in the hands of Grant, but did not see him use it; witness was trying to make peace; was going away when Kennedy pulled him back; witness turned round and saw a man fall; saw Grant and Brien before—they were all tipsey that night—able to walk and no more.

Constable M’Coy proved the arrest of the prisoners and two others at the Mile post, in the County Kilkenny; they had a car, in which were two bars of iron [one was produced with which the injuries seemed to be inflicted]—Grant said the iron was his; when brought to the police station the prisoners were identified by the Walshes, and John Walsh stated that Grant was the man who slaughtered them all with the bar of iron.

Dr. J. Mackesy deposed to the nature and extent of the injuries inflicted, which were of so serious a nature that their lives were endangered. Mr. Rollestone addressed the jury for the prisoners. Henry Bolton, Esq., gave the prisoner Brien a character for quiet, orderly conduct. Nicholas Henneberry, a farmer, gave a good character of Grant. The Judge charged the jury at much length, who retired, and after a considerable delay, acquitted the prisoners of all the counts.”

It is not clear what defence the defendants employed, but given the acquittal it is likely that self-defence may have been plead. It is not clear, what role, if any, the life threatening head injury Henry “Bounce” Walsh suffered in 1846 played in his alleged killing of John Walsh in 1847.

Siblings of Henry “Bounce” Walsh

A quick review of the early parish records and we were able to locate six children of Walter Walsh and Mary Baldwin, of Catsrock, Glenmore. Unfortunately, we could not locate a baptism for Henry although we believe he may have been born between 1823 to 1830.

[1] John Walsh, was baptized on 11 July 1823 at Glenmore the son of Walter Walsh and Mary Beldon (sic). [2] Patrick Walsh, was baptized on 29 March 1830 at Glenmore. [3] Michael Walsh, was baptized on 17 May 1832 at Glenmore. [4] Mary Walsh, was baptized on 17 April 1834 at Glenmore. [5] Mary Walsh, was baptized on 16 July 1836 at Glenmore. [6] Anastatia Walsh, was baptized on 12 Aug. 1839 at Glenmore.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh