ported one day and denied or
explained away the next, I thought it worth while to ascertain the
exact truth concerning the case of Laurence Griffin, of Kilfalliny,
co. Kerry. It had been reported at Cork that Griffin had been taken
out of his bed in his own house, that his ears had been slit, and that
he had been otherwise maltreated by a band of ruffians, on the night
of Monday last. Then it was roundly asserted that he had never been
attacked at all, and that he was a malingerer who had slit his own
ears, or persuaded his wife to slit them for him, with an eye to the
excitement of sympathy and charity; that winter was coming on; and
that, after all, the ear is not a very sensitive part of the human
form. To ascertain the exact truth there seemed to be only one
method--to see for oneself. Having seen the man, and assisted at the
application of a fresh dressing to his wounded ear, not _ears_, I must
confess myself incapable of entertaining any doubt as to his veracity.
His mutilated ear is not slit, nor is he "ear-marked" like a beast, by
a notch being cut in that organ. The upper and exterior convolution of
his left ear is cut clean off, so that its outline, instead off being
rounded at the top, is straight. The wound is of course still fresh
and sore, but is already showing signs of healing. The poor man has
evidently been not only barbarously mutilated, but nearly frightened
to death. With his pale face and half-grown beard, and his head bound
up, he is a pitiable object. Obviously he was nearly as much afraid of
me as of his midnight assailants, and was far too much bewildered by
the harsh tone of "the Saxon" to tell a smooth and coherent story. Bit
by bit, amid many interruptions, he told his pitiful narrative, only
one part of which I consider doubtful. He denied that, either by their
clothes or any other sign, he could identify any one of the men who
attacked him. I am obliged to believe that, despite their blackened
faces, he could have done so, were he not in fear of his life. The
hand of his enemies is still heavy upon him, for his wife cannot get
milk from the neighbours for her children. They are either afraid, or
say that they are, to give or sell to Laurence Griffin, his wife, or
his children. He is thrown out of employment, and may, so far as the
anti-landlord party are concerned, starve. The causes which led to
the outrage on this poor man afford such a curious picture of the
present state of county Kerry