Half-hanged MacNaghten: An 18th Century Stalker
The Celt's historical columnist, Jonathan Smyth, recalls the story of an unsavoury character John MacNaghten in this week's Times Past...
When all did not go to plan at the gallows, John MacNaghten requested that he be hung a second time. I will not be known as half-hanged MacNaghten, he told the executioner. MacNaghten’s life and death, a story with a creepy edge, is told in Half-hanged MacNaghten by Darinah Boyle.
In the 18th century, Swanlinbar was a popular destination for tourists who came to use the spas, often staying over in the Castle Spa Hotel. In the summer of 1761, John MacNaghten arrived, choosing not to stay in the hotel, instead rented a small cottage some distance from the town. MacNaughten, an insignificant looking man in a coarse wig, had the appearance of a sailor. Although, educated at Trinity College Dublin, and having ascendancy connections, his character was not so desirable. Being a notorious gambler, he enjoyed high-living and possessed an enchanting manner, popular with the ladies. He could do no wrong in their eyes, or could he?
Trouble brewed when MacNaghten fell into financial ruin, losing his home and lands at Benvarden House, Bushmills. To solve his problems, MacNaghten, ever the schemer, concocted a plan to marry a pretty well-to-do heiress, named Mary Anne Knox, a 15-year-old girl, the daughter of an MP, from a middle-class Presbyterian family whom MacNaghten underhandedly tricked into a mock wedding. The Knox family were infuriated over the deception of their daughter.
Mary Anne’s mother, and a sister, Angel, took her to Swanlinbar, escaping mortification and scandal. Although but a young girl, Mary Anne too despised MacNaghten’s actions. Staying in the Castle Spa Hotel, the Knoxes walked the hotel pathways known as the Ladies Mile and the Gortal Woods, where MacNaghten unbeknown to them was watching. If caught, MacNaghten would be arrested and taken jailed. It was his landlady who became suspicious, having found gun powder and shot in his room. She told the Protestant Bishop who was holidaying in the area, and an arrest warrant was issued for MacNaghten. However, getting wind of the warrant, he went as fast as he could to the Bishop, telling him it was he who had been wronged, his presence there was to take home his wife, reiterating, that the Knoxes were the problem. The Bishop was convinced, believing him a wronged man, and allowed him to go.
Leopards and their spots rarely change and before long, MacNaghten’s old tricks resurfaced. He begged to meet Mary Anne again. The Knoxes, in the meantime, had gone to stay in Florencecourt with Lord Mountflorence and an aunt of Mary Anne’s was sent to meet MacNaghten. She was having none of it, and having failed, he resorted to an even more underhanded approach. He decided for a second time to kidnap Mary Anne, this being his original intention.
Getting wind of the Knoxes travelling to Dublin, MacNaghten bribed one of their footmen to pour water into the muskets, rendering them useless. The footman obeyed, ignoring any allegiance he had to the Knoxes. However, they were warned of a potential attack, and for precaution set off in two separate coaches, half an hour apart with armed guards.
MacNaghten was smart enough to deduct that Mary Anne might be in the second coach, which duly came along the road, two guards in tow behind. This time he had three accomplices, loading and handing him his pistols. He fired at the party below on the road. Most of the Knoxes' soaked weapons did not work. The ambush ended in tragedy when MacNaghten shot Mary Anne dead. Attempting to shield her father, the girl threw herself over him taking the bullet. One of the guards managed to wound the culprit who fled the scene.
Several stories emerge about the capture of the stalker turned killer. Most probably, he was caught by the Enniskillen Light Horse Regiment, stationed at Strabane, having had a one hundred guineas wager placed on his head. He was hiding in a loft close to his former home, when on seeing the soldiers, fired at them. They charged forward, swords drawn. MacNaghten not fancying his chances, turned the gun on himself but the bullet fell to the ground.
He was thrown into jail. The trial took place in Lifford Courthouse in December 1761, with the captured fugitive carried in on a stretcher, himself choosing to conduct his own defence. Pleas and explanations came forth with great emotion, as to the reason for his action, simply, as he said, to bring home his lawful wife. The witnesses did little to help him; two of them present at the ambush, said he had called out for Mary Anne to be shot. The judge sentenced MacNaghten and one of the accomplices to hang. Tears and crying were heard around the court.
The gallows were constructed by the Knoxes and on the day of execution, a hangman from Cavan was requested to carry out the act. No local man in the area wanted to be involved. In a final show of bravado, with the rope around his neck, NacNaghten leapt off the gallows, the rope snapping, he fell to the ground. He climbed the ladder again, and not wanting to be known for the rest of his life as half-hanged MacNaghten, told the hangman to get on with the job. A fresh rope was procured, the lever pulled and the trapdoor opened. This time MacNaghten was dead for certain.
REFINED ROBBERY
In August 1824, the Cavan Herald reported on Michael Daly, of Derrycramp, Cavan Town, a Tithe-proctor, who whilst in an amorous dalliance with some captivating and very accommodating Town Cyprians (disreputable ladies), was relieved of the contents of his pockets; one of which contained some three or four hundred pounds worth of whole and halved bank notes, for the loss of which he ‘was amply compensated’ by the smiling charms, and sweet embraces of his ‘fair and chaste’ companions.
On Saturday, Colonel Whyte, Redhills, was informed of some young ladies of a ‘rather suspicious appearance’, amusing themselves at the cross-roads, and had a large sum of money in their possession. Whyte, being a Magistrate, immediately, had them removed and placed into custody by the Redhills police. The notes for which they were unable to account, amounting to £159 were taken off them, presumably ‘being a part of Mr Daly's favours'. The ladies were then committed to jail.