John Neill. Gunmaker. Belfast.

Belfast Firearms Robbery

"The robbery of arms in Belfast has produced great uneasiness in that town, and many rumours are in circulation in connection with it. One of these (our correspondent mentions) is, that some description of local Fenian movement had been planned for the 1st of May, but did not take place, according to the Northern Whig, from the non-receipt of expected “orders from America,” The belief exists, probably only in the minds of alarmists, that considerable quantities of arms are secreted about the town and neighbourhood. The shop of Neill, the Belfast gunmaker, from which the seventeen pistols and guns were taken, was entered by means of skeleton keys, and the robbery committed in a most clever manner, no trace of violence being visible. The five persons first arrested have been discharged, but are understood to be under surveillance. The detective force are busy, and there is a good hope of results".

Pall Mall Gazette. 8/5/1869.. 

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                                             Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk