Statements About the Feeheleys, 1881
INFORMATION
PROVINCE OF ONTARIO
County of Middlesex.
The Information and Complaint of Patrick Donnelly of the City of London Blacksmith taken upon oath the second day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty one before me, the undersigned, one of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace in and for the said County of Middlesex, who saith that James Feehely and William Feehely did, on the fourth of February one thousand eight hundred and eighty at Biddulph in the County of Middlesex felonously and of said malice aforethought kill and murder James Donnelly, Judith Donnelly, Bridget Donnelly, Thomas Donnelly and John Donnelly. [...]
Biddulph April 26/81
Wm Feehely told me in presence of James Hogin that James Toohey, Pat Quigley & James Maher were the three men carried Tom Donnelly into the house after he was killed also told me that Pat Breen made all the bye laws and Dan Keenan kept the books that there was an oath in connection with the society and that he knew all about it as he had taken the oath himself.[...] he said it was Pat Quigley's spade Tom's head was split with after he was carried into the house. [...] he also said they saw Johnny OConnor but thought him not old enough to tell anything [...] he told me Tade Toohhey came to him last summer and offered him more money than would buy our farm if he Feehely would sware there was no oath in the society also to have him sware what they would put up for him & they would follow and give evidence to strengthen his he said he would & tell it all if his folks were away out of the country [...]. He also asked me for god to forgive him as he was led into it by others [...].
[Statement by Thomas Shoebottom]
Lucan May 6, 1881
I the undersigned heard the following from the Feehely family in connection with the Donnelly murder. [...] Ellen Feehely said Jim Carroll murdered the Donnellys. [...] I was speaking to James Feehley in the Feehely homestead he said it was hard for a man to leave the place were man born and raised. But he said it was the murderers was running him away for fear he would tell on them. [...]
Thoman Shoebottom
County Constable