Last week a number of the men of the North Cork Rifles, stationed in Ayr Barracks, were paid proportions of bounty due to them for bringing in recruits to the regiment, and, as is too often the case, most of the money was speedily squandered in intoxicating drink.
One party of six, especially, indulged in very deep potations - first of porter and ale, and afterwards if whiskey. From the free use they made of the latter, they appeared to be strangers to it's potent influence. In a short time however, they began to feel its effects, and ultimately some of them presented such alarming symptoms that medical aid had to be called in.
The remedies applied were successful in the case of all but one man - Jeremiah Connelly, a Private in H Company, aged 29 years - who died on Friday. It was first supposed the liquor had been drugged; but subsequent examination showed that there was no foundation for the suspicion.
The poor fellow, who thus met with such a miserable end, was interred in the Roman Catholic burying-ground on Monday with full military honours.
With the rumour of poisoning which was current for a day or two some names were mixed up; and the tenant of the Anchor Tavern, Boat Vennal, feeling aggrieved, writes requesting us to state that none of the parties above mentioned were in his house of the day in question.