This story is an extract from the book "The Banks Of The Boro". The full book is available on Google Books, and the extract below begins on page 272. I have never found any trace of a Loftus Frizelle on the family tree, so whether he is related or not I can't say.

 

"Now, there was a gentleman that took some land on the side of the mountain here, beyond that spur on the left, in a townland called Ballindonney [a townsland between New Ross and Enniscorthy, in Co. Wexford, Ireland]. His name was Loftus Frizelle. He had been a captain in the king's troops in '98; and was twice near being shot by the insurgents; and twice he was saved on account of the humane character he bore. Indeed at one time a parcel of women surrounded him, and would not let him be put to death. As I said, he took this farm some years since, and lived on it, and gave employment to a great number of people, and was well liked. Some folk, however, owed him a spite for the taking of the land, and Moll Doyle and her daughters were hired to pay him a visit.

He was sitting comfortably at his good turf fire one evening, resting himself after his day's labour, for he never flinched from work; and no one was with him but an old housekeeper, when four fellows with blackened faces walked in, and presented their guns at him, I don't well know what discourse passed; but we may suppose that he offered to do anything in reason to have his life spared. It is supposed that all were for letting him off but one; but when this fellow levelled his piece at poor Frizelle, he sprung on him, gripped the gun, and a dreadful struggle took place.

Frizelle at last wrenched the gun out of the hands of his enemy, who roared out to the others, and asked them would they see him killed. He then came to close quarters with Frizelle again, and swore that if they did not assist him he would shoot them like dogs as soon as he was at liberty. Mr. Frizelle defended himself as a brave and desperate man would, and, getting an opportunity, he dealt his enemy such a powerful blow that he flung him headlong to the very end of the room. The others, seeing him now at liberty, and the gun in his grasp, felt it was time to interfere; so they rushed in and pinioned him. His strength was so great that he got two of them down, but while struggling for life, his first foe, picking himself up, and taking the gun out of one of his comrades' hands, blew its contents through the entire length of his body, and the struggle was over.

Of course the news ran like wildfire through the barony, an inquest was held, people were taken up on suspicion; but the murderer was not discovered at the time. However, a part of the lock of a gun was found on the floor where the struggle took place, and one of the policemen put it into his pocket, where it remained for some months.

Sometime after, a flock of sheep, straying from their owner’s lands, committed trespass on a field belonging to Solomon Doran, a farmer who lived in Ballyhiland. His wife, spying the mistake, impounded the intruders till their owner would come and pay for the damage. In due time the sheep were liberated, but their owner insisted that one of them was missing. He asked in the most insinuating manner if Doran's wife had lately refreshed herself or family with a mutton-chop; but instead of gratifying his curiosity, she gave him a tart reply, and hinted at an action for defamation of character.

The unreasonable man, not yet satisfied, revealed his grievance to the police at Enniscorthy; and Solomon received a visit in consequence, at a time when no visit was looked for. Nothing was discovered; but one of the police, being attracted by the sight of handsome firelock over the fire-place, drew near and carelessly inspected its works. The gun was a good one, but wanted a bit of the lock; and this the inspector supplied at once by simply putting his hand in his pocket.

Solomon was informed that he must come before the next magistrate; and there the gun itself came under the notice of its former owner, Mr. Gladney, a pensioner, from whom it had been stolen about three years back. I will not tire you with the trial at Wexford, nor the evidence, nor the speeches of counsel. The guilty man was hanged in a paddock adjoining the house in which the murder was committed; and there was a very unpleasant spirit of curiosity and excitement through the barony on the day of the execution."

 

Solomon Doran executed at Ballindonney on March 17th 1818 for the murder of Loftus Frizelle in 1816.