Cornelius Horrigan was born in 1843 in Campbeltown, New South Wales, Australia as
the second child of James Joseph Horrigan and Hanorah Fitz-Gibbons. He had nine siblings,
namely: Ellen, Thomas J, Mary, Margaret Agnes, Catherine, John, James Edward, Honorah
Mary Teresa, and Johanna Marion Josephine.
When he was 22, Cornelius married Margaret Ellen Fitzgerald, daughter of James Fitzgerald
and Nora O'Sullivan, in 1865[1] in Queensland, Australia.
Cornelius Horrigan and Margaret Ellen Fitzgerald had the following children:
1. Thomas Horrigan was born in 1865 in Queensland, Australia.
2. Julia Mary Horrigan was born in 1867 in Queensland, Australia. She married Alexander
Brierty on 10 February 1892 in Queensland, Australia.
3. Honora Helena Horrigan was born in 1869 in Queensland, Australia. She married
Charles Peyton Irvine in 1894 in Queensland, Australia. She died in 1951 in Queensland,
Australia.
4. Margaret Anges Horrigan was born in 1871 in Queensland, Australia.
5. James Horrigan was born in 1872 in Queensland, Australia. He died in 1931 in Queensland,
Australia.
6. Joseph Horrigan was born in 1877 in Queensland, Australia. He died in 1877 in
Queensland, Australia.
7. Mabel Ellen Horrigan was born in 1881 in Queensland, Australia. She married Victor
Emanuel Flindt in 1904 in Queensland, Australia. She died in 1965 in Queensland,
Australia.
8. Phillis Elizabeth Horrigan was born in 1883 in Queensland, Australia. She married
William Joseph Evans in 1908 in Queensland, Australia. She died in 1939 in Woollahra,
New South Wales.
9. Mary Thomasine Horrigan was born in 1887 in Queensland, Australia.
10. Cornelius Henry Horrigan was born in 1887. He was killed in action on 08 August
1918 in France.
11. Katherine Amelda Horrigan. She married Arthur Wilton Elliott in 1909 in Queensland,
Australia.
12. Maud Agnes Horrigan. She married Charles James Houghton in 1895 in Queensland,
Australia. She died in 1953 in Queensland, Australia.
13. Amy Jacoba Horrigan. She died in 1948 in Queensland, Australia. She married Arthur
Douglas Prentice in 1912 in Queensland, Australia.
14. Bertha Albina Horrigan. She died in 1974 in Queensland, Australia.
Late at night on 16 August 1872, Cornelius rode his horse at a furious pace at a
police officer, Sergeant Grayson, knocking him down and causing injuries. He was
charged with assaulting and causing bodily harm. On 11 November 1872, he was found
guilty of common assult and sentenced to four months goal.
On 23 June 1885, Cornelius Horrigan was charged with wife desertion. He was a drunk
who beat his wife and children frequently.
Margaret died on 3 November 1901[2] in Warwick, Queensland, Australia, age 56.
Cornelius died on 25 May 1921[3] in Warwick, Queensland, Australia, age 78.
Citations:
1. Queensland Government - Births, deaths, marriages and divorces, C587
2. Queensland Government - Births, deaths, marriages and divorces, C4776
3. Queensland Government - Births, deaths, marriages and divorces, B34613
External Links:
WARWICK POLICE COURT. MONDAY, AUGUST 19. (Before Messrs. Morgan and Daveney JJ.P.)
FURIOUS RIDING - Warwick Examiner and Times (Qld. : 1867 - 1919) Saturday 24 August
1872 p 2
WARWICK POLICE COURT - Monday August 19, (Before Messrs. Morgan and Daveney JJ.P.)
Furious Riding - Cornelius Horrigan was brought up in custody, charged with furious
riding, and causing
serious bodily harm to Police Sergeant Grayson. Mr. Oxenham, who appeared for the
prosecution, applied for an adjournment, owing to the illness of the Sergeant through
the alleged injuries received. Mr. Daly for the defendant, applied that Horrigan
would be admitted to bail. The Bench adjourned the case for eight days, and bail
was allowed, prisoner in £100 and two sureties of £50 each.
WARWICK POLICE COURT. (Before the Police Magistrale and Chas, Clark, Esq., J.P.)
CAUSING BODILY HARM - Warwick Examiner and Times (Qld. : 1867 - 1919) Saturday 31
August 1872 p 2
WARWICK POLICE COURT (Before the Police Magistrate and Chas. Clark, Esq., J-)'.)
CAUSING BODILY HARM - Cornelius Horrigan appearedd on remand, charged with causing
bodily harm to Police Sergeant Grayson by wanton and furious riding. Mr. Oxenham
conducted the prosecution; Mr. Daly defended the prisoner.
Sergeant Grayson deposed:-I am a police sergeant, stationed at Warwick; on the night
of the 16th inst. I was on duty in Palmerin street; between 11 and 12 o'clock at
night I saw the prisoner on passing by Craig's public house. I saw two men on the
verandah. I knew prisoner to be one of the men by his voice; there was a horse saddled
and standing in front of the public-house; I then proceeded down Palmerin-streeet
to the crossing of Fitzroy street; I stood there for two or three minutes when my
attention was attracted by a horse coming down the street at a furious rate in the
direction of where I was standing; I was in the middle of the street, and I drew
on one side a little to leave the street clear; the horse tried to go round the corner
up Fitzroy-street, when he was turned by the rider on the off side, which brought
him nearly to the centre of the street; he rode down a short way in the direction
of Fitzroy-street, till he arrived where I was standing, when he suddenly turned
the horse round, reined him up, and rushed forward in the direction of where I was
standing, at the same time making use of the words "You b--r, I will ride the b..
y horse over you"; at the time those words were expressed the horse was then close
in front of me; I tried to dodge out of the horses' way, but was prevented by prisoner
reining his horse at me whichever way I moved; he had perfect control over the horse;
I had not given him any provocation, nor even said a word to him; while attempting
to get out of the way I was knocked down by the horse striking me with his fore quarter;
while on the ground I felt something pass over me, grazing my back; I felt a great
deal of pain, and continue to feel it in my sight side, across the chest, and the
lower part of my back; the pain was intense for three days afterwards; on getting
up from the ground I saw the prisoner on horseback about three or four yards ahead
of me, and a person (Mr. Slade) coming across the street; I told the man, who I thought
at the time was a constable, to arrest the prisoner if possible; prisoner gallopped
up the street and Mr. Slade followed him up the street; I went in company with Mr.
Slade to Craig's public-house, in order to satisfy him that the prisoner was the
man who had just left Craig's public-house; I have not been in very strong health
for about three months, but for a fortnight previous to this occurrence I had been
in much better health; I have been under medical treatment by Dr. Stargetts from
this occurrence.
By Mr. Daly:-The night was a moonlight night; I did not go to Craig's public house
to satisfy myself, but to satisfy Mr. Slade; I swear positively that the prisoner
is the man who knocked me down; there were no reins broken, they were as perfect
as possible; if there had been any break I must have seen it; can't say whether prisoner
was under the influence of liquor; the prisoner did not make use of my name; I did
not frighten the horse; I could not get out of the way; I positively swear that he
reined up his horse for the purpose of run ning over me; I was not in the act of
arresting him for furious riding; the injuries I received caused mme to have medical
attendance; it was not from a previous illness; I was attended by Dr. Margetts; somebody
sent Dr. Headley to see me, but I refused him and Mr. E. L. Thornton, who accompanied
him, admittance, as I did not send for him; and I consider it was a studied insult.
W. B. Slade, on being sworn, deposed: On Friday night, the 16th inst., I was proceeding
down Palmerin-street, about half-past eleven; I saw a person in a cloak close to
Horwitz's corner, also a man riding up the street; when the horseman was within about
ten or fifteen yards from the person on foot he exclaimed "I'll ride over you, you
b--- r;" and accordingly he did so; I ran to the assistance of the man who was knocked
down and found him to be Sergeant Grayson; I asked him if he was much hurt, and he
said "badly"; the sergeant said the man who had ridden over him was Con. Horrigan;
did not recognise the man that night; could not identify the voice; was from 80 to
100 yards from the man; the night was a still moonlight night; ran after the man
to arrest him but did not succeed; followed him to the comer of Grafton-street; the
man who rode over the sergeant had entire control over his horse, else he could not
have turned him in the way he did.
By Mr. Daly:-I directed a constable to arrest the prisoner, as I considered it my
duty as a Justice of the Peace to do so; the sergeant was in the street before the
accident; the horse was coming up the street at a smart pace; the sergeant tried
to get out of the way of the horseman; it would be impossible for anything to have
been the matter with the reins. Walter Waits deposed:-I am apprenticed to be a printer;
on the night of the 16th inst., I was leaving work, about half-past eleven, when
I saw a man run over; could distinctly see that the man was knocked down; I went
straight home; did not know who the man was who was knocked down or who knocked him
down. By Mr. Daly - Did not hear any words pass; was about fifty yards from the place
where this occurred.
Constable Grammy gave evidence of the arrest of the prisoner on the 17th on warrant;
on arresting him prisoner said "all right:" while on the way into town he said that
was the fruits of riding a young horse at night, and that if he had imagined that
a warrant was out for him, they would not have caught him before Monday morning.
Dr. Margetts deposed: -I am a duly qualified medical practitioner; on the 17th inst,
attended Sergeant Grayson; he called at my surgery and stated that he had received
injuries on the previous night; he seemed to have been suffering considerably; I
desired him to go home, and I went to examine him; he complained of a pain across
the chest, particularly on the right side, and also in the back; there were no external
marks, but he had evidently received a severe shock, and there was a considerable
derangement of the nervous system; the injuries mnight have resulted from a fall
or blow; he has been unable to fulfil his duties up to the present time; have not
attended him for many months before.
By Mr, Daly:-I attended him as a police surgeon; am not aware that he was ailing
before this oocurrence from his appearance I should not think he had been suffering
from illness for some time before.
This closed the case for the prosecution. Mr. Daly said he should not call evidence
for the defence. He then addressed the Bench in favor of his client, contending that
if they considered a case had been made out a small fine would meet the ends of justice.
The prisoner being cautioned reserved his defence. He was then committed to take
his trial at the District Court to be holden at Warwick, on the 7th November next.
Bail was allowed, himself in £200 and two sureties of £100 each, the Bench remarking
that they considered the offence a very serious one, as it
might have resulted in the death of the sergeant of police.
WARWICK DISTRICT COURT - The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933) Monday 11 November
1872 p 3 Article
Cornelius Horrigan (on bail) was charged with assaulting and causing bodily harm
to Sergeant Grayson, on the 16th August last, another count charged him with a common
assault. The Crown Prosecutor (Mr. Hely), instructcd by Mr. Oxenham, prosecuted,
Mr. M'Devitt, instructed by Mr. Daly, defended the prisoner. It appeared from the
evidence for the prosecution that the prosecutor, Robert Grayson, is a sergeant of
police stationed at Warwick, and on the night of the 16th August last was on duty
in Palmerin-street, when he saw a horse fastened to the post in front of Craig's
public house, and saw prisoner; on proceeding down the street and when near the corner
of Fitzroy-street he heard a horseman coming along at a good pace, and, on turning
round, he saw it was the prisoner; while crossing the street the horseman came up
to him, reined his horse up, headed him towards the sergeant, rushed the horse towards
him, and said, "You b-r, I will ride the b-y horse over you;" the sergeant tried
to dodge out of the way, but prisoner urged the horse forward, knocked him down,
and rode over him, from which it was alleged he suffered internal injury, and was
under medical treatment for some days. The night was clear and moonlight, and on
getting up the prosecutor observed some person near, and believing him to be a constable
he sent him after the horseman. This was, however, a gentleman named Slade, and he
came to where the prisoner was standing and on learning the circumstances he pursued
the man some distance, but did not succeed in capturing him. The following morning
prisoner was arrested at the Pocket on warrant, and on his way to the lock-up he
said to Constable Crummy, "This is what comes from riding a young horse at night."
The prosecutor swore positively to Horrigan being the man who rode over him. The
injuries were of such a nature as to hinder him from attending to his duties, and
he had been under treatment of Dr. Margetts, in Warwick, and Dr. Bancroft in Brisbane.
Mr. W.C. Balls and Mr. C.B. Daveney gave evidence as to prisoner's previous good
character during the time he was employed at Canning Downs. The jury after an absence
of a few minutes, returned
a verdict of guilty of common assault. The prisoner was sentenced to four months'
imprisonment.
Warwick Police Court. MONDAY, JUNE 16. (Before the Police Magistrate) - Warwick Argus
(Qld. : 1879 - 1901) Saturday 21 June 1884 p 2 Article - 21 June 1884
Drunkenness - ... Cornelius Horrigan, for drunkenness and disorderly conduct in Palmerin-street,
opposite the Globe Hotel, was fined 5s., or twenty-four hours in the cells.
TUESDAY, JUNE 23. (Before the Police Magistrate.) WIFE DESERTION - Warwick Examiner
and Times (Qld. : 1867 - 1919) Wednesday 24 June 1885 p 2 Article - 24 June 1885
TUESDAY, JUNE 23 (Before the Police Magistrate.) WIFE DESERTION. Cornelius Horrigan
was charged with having deserted his wife Margaret Horrigan, she having had to leave
ber home through apprehension of bodily harm from her husband. After hearing the
evidence of plaintiff and her daughter, defendant was ordered to pay the sum of 12s
6d per week, in advance, for a period of twelve months, two sureties of £15 each
to be found, failing which defendant to be sent to gaol for that period.
Warwick Police Court. TUESDAY, JUNE 23 (Before the Police Magistrate.) - Warwick
Argus (Qld. : 1879 - 1901) Saturday 27 June 1885 p 2 Article - 27 June 1885
TUESDAY, June 18 - (Before the Public Magistrate) WIFE DESERTION. - Cornelius Horrigan
was charged with wife desertion. Margaret Horrigan deposed that she had been married
to the defendant for nearly twenty years; he had not of late years worked sufficiently
to support her, and she had to rely upon Mev?Ba(?); about a month ago defendant went
away to work; he worked three or four days, and brought witnesses £46d; next day
he wanted 2s of the money back again,but witness refused to give it to him; he went
away and returned at night and beat the children; on the 20th, witness was sitting
by the fire with her baby, when defendant got out of bed and commenced cursing and
swearing at her; witness ran to a neighbors house, and defendant followed her and
struck her on the back of the head; he also chased the children; witness had nine
children; since the experience just referred to witness had been living in her mother's
house-she was afraid to go home: her husband had frequently treated her in the manner
described; he is now nearly always drunk; she prayed the Bench to make an order for
her maintenance; she had tried to get defendant to reform, but without avail. Witness
was cross-examined by her husband, but the questions were of an irrelavent nature.
Nora Horrigan, daughter of the parties, corroborated her mother's evidence, and added
that when her father struck her mother on the head, she(witness) said to him, "You
must not hit ma anymore" Her father then chased her out of the house; her mother
had often had to leave her home before the time referred to. By defendant; My mother
did not give you any provocation to hit her; you hit her with your hand; you told
me to stop singing out when you hit ma; I -told you you were not game to hit ma anymore.
Mrs.Horrigan, recalled, stated that if defendant kept sober, he could earn 30s per
week.or £l and rations. The Bench ordered defendant to pay 12s 6d per week for twelve
months for the support of his wife and children; the money to be paid monthly in
advance; and to find two sureties, each in the sum of £15, for the due payment of
the money; in default of finding, such sureties, defendant to be imprisoned for twelve
months, or until the sureties are found.
Family Notices - Warwick Argus (Qld. : 1879 - 1901) Tuesday 5 November 1901 p 2 Family
Notices
DEATH - Horrigan.-At her residence, Slade Villa, Wood-street, on November 3, Margaret,
wife of Cornelius Horrigan; aged, 55 years.
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