Sergeant Armstrong Shot Dead

 DASTARDLY OUTRAGE IN BALLINA

           

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 POLICE PATROL AMBUSHED

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SERGEANT ARMSTRONG SHOT DEAD

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(Ballina Herald, July 29, 1920)

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A

 SHOCKING tragedy occurred in Ballina on last night week, as a result of which Sergeant Armstrong was shot dead and Constable Regan very seriously wounded. At 11.50 p.m., they were accompanied by Constable Nangle and Barnes, were returning off patrol, and had reached the Moy Lane on Knox Street, about 100 yards from the barracks, when they were “held up” by armed and masked men, who called on them to put their hands up. To get a purely accurate account of what then happened, owing to the falling through of an inquest is practically impossible, and many versions of the occurrence are given. One is that when they were challenged, Constable Barnes jumped off the footpath on to the road and fired a shot to which the raiders immediately replied with a volley.

  Another version is that three of the patrol were knocked down by surprise and that Constable Barnes fired a shot and took to flight, firing as he ran, and that some of the others on the ground also discharged shots, and that the sergeant, in the act of rising, received a bullet in the back. Another version is that the two leading constables were felled with blows and kicks, and that the third threw down his arms and escaped, and that Constable Barnes took to flight, discharging his revolver as he ran.

  Be the circumstances what they may, the sad occurrence has broken the quiet reputation which Ballina held, and at the present time large forces of police and military are parading the town. When a number of people were retiring for the night a volley of shots rang out, after which moans were heard on either side of the Moy Lane, and some are inclined to the opinion that more than one was hit. After the first volley a desperate chase took place up Knox Street and over Garden Street, Constable Barnes, it is said, being followed by some of the attacking party, from whom he succeeded in escaping. It is stated that he knocked on several doors in Garden Street, but was not admitted, until he ultimately scaled the workhouse wall in the course of which he received an injury to his foot, and gained admittance to the workhouse where he remained until morning.

  After the volley of shots the police and others arrived on the scene and had Sergeant Armstrong, who was mortally wounded, removed to the barracks, together with Constable Regan. The services of clergymen were immediately requisitioned, and it was not until Rev. D. O’Connor, C.C., and Rev. J. F. Nash, were on the scene, the former attended to Constable Regan and the latter to Sergeant Armstrong. Dr. Keane was also immediately on the scene, and did what he could for both men. Sergeant Armstrong’s family were also communicated with and some of them had arrived and spoken to him before he succumbed, his last words being “what will my poor wife do?” When the police came on the scene they fired a volley and sent up aerial lights, but by that time the assailants had vanished.

INQUEST FALLS THROUGH

  Dr. MacHale, Coroner for North Mayo, attended at the Courthouse, Ballina, on Thursday evening, for the purpose of holding an inquest into the circumstances of the death of Sergeant Armstrong, but as four out of eighteen jurors summoned attended, the inquiry proved abortive.

  Head Constable Dwyer said he was in the process to proceed, but, of course, it was not possible to do anything in the absence of a sufficient number of jurors.

  The Coroner agree, and, proceeding, said he regretted very much that such a tragic occurrence had taken place in Ballina, especially as he had known the town since he was a child. In the course of his duties he had known Sergeant Armstrong to be a painstaking official, who always gave the great help to him personally. He was a diligent and most inoffensive officer. He was very sorry that such a fate should befall an innocent man, for such he believed Sergeant Armstrong to be, and he desired to express his sincere sympathy with the widow and family in their sad bereavement.

  Head Constable Dwyer, in associating himself with the expression of condolence, said he felt the death of Sergeant Armstrong very keenly. He had known the deceased for seven years, and a more inoffensive man he thought he never met. As far as he knew, he never did any man an injury.

  The Coroner said the taking of a human life when the victim was not, perhaps, prepared to die, was a very serious matter. They all had fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, and a loss of any one of them in any circumstances they would feel very much. He trusted that the guilty party would be forgiven. Perhaps the shot was not intended for Sergeant Armstrong, but he, at any rate, had suffered. If he might offer a word of advice, it would be to exhort the people to keep quiet. He did not know of any reason why Sergeant Armstrong’s life should be taken away, for he was at all times a most inoffensive man.

  On Thursday the remains were removed from the barracks to the home of the widow in Dillon Terrace.

THE FUNERAL

  The funeral, which took place at 3 p.m. on Friday, was preceded by the hearse, the coffin being carried the entire way from Dillon Terrace to Ardnaree Cemetery on the shoulders of his comrades of the R.I.C., followed by the mourning carriages. Then came a strong body of constabulary, followed by a detachment of military, were reversed arms, behind whom was a huge contingent of local Comrades of the Great War, followed again by an immense body of the general public. The Service in the Parish Church (St. Michael’s on Church Road), was conducted by the Rector (Rev. J. F. Nash) and Rev. A. J. Pike, Rector of Crossmolina, who also conducted the service at the graveside.

  Many messages of sympathy were received, and the following wreaths were laid on the grave:-- “In loving memory of my dear husband, from his heartbroken wife”; “To darling daddy from Louie, Lottie and Violet. ‘He giveth His beloved sleep’,”; “To darling daddy from Tommy, Jack and Elsie”; “To darling daddy from Baby Mabel, Leslie and Walter”; “To darling daddy from Cecil and George”; “With deepest sympathy from Rev. J. F. Nash and Mrs. Nash”; “With Mr. and Mrs. Garvey’s deepest sympathy”; “With deepest sympathy and sincere regret from Mr. and Mr. William Lewis”; “With loving sympathy from Comrades in R.I.C. Barracks, Ballina”.

  A very pathetic feature of the tragedy is that Sergeant Armstrong, who had over 30 years’ service (24 of which were spent in Ballina) was to be out on pension on the 31st July, and that he leaves a widow and 10 children to mourn his loss, for whom there is the greatest sympathy. So far as can be learned, the only motive in holding up the patrol was to capture their arms, for no animus was entertained against the police in Ballina, particularly Sergeant Armstrong, who was always looked upon as a most inoffensive officer, and we much regret his sad end.

  The assailants carried away the firearms of all the police, except those of Constable Barnes, and also their belts, handcuffs, etc.

RAIDS

  It is rumoured that a number of raids took place on Thursday night, but no arrests were affected. At 1 p.m. on Friday, a large force of police and military marched up Knox Street, and Messrs. Shanley Brothers, drapers, Knox Street, was raided. The search occupied about an hour and a half, but it appears that nothing of an incriminating nature was found. During the search a party of military lined up outside, and as the search party left some jeers and whistles could be heard.

PULPIT REFERENCES

  Preaching in the Parish Church, Ardnaree, on Sunday morning last, the Rector (Rev. J. F. Nash, M.A.), taking as his text St. Matthew, vii, 20, 21—“By their fruits ye shall know them. Not everyone that saith to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in Heaven.” These words are the concluding words of the Gospel for this Sunday.  The disciples had been given certain broad rules by which they might discover whether a prophet, a teacher, was true or false. Judge them by their fruits, just as you judge a tree--a good tree or a bad tree is so because of its fruit, a teacher is good or bad by the result of his teaching in his own life, and the result that teaching of his has been upon the lives of others. It is a very plain, very sensible bit of advice.

  “As with a prophet, so with a system. By their fruits ye shall know them. Walk around the churchyard after Service this morning and you will see the fruit of the teaching of Sinn Fein. Go down to the Abbey Churchyard and you will see more of it. Go through the churchyards of Ireland and but too often you see freshly-turned earth hiding the poor mortal remains of some victim of Sinn Fein. Destroyed barracks and coastguard stations, courthouses. ‘By their fruits ye shall know them. Misery, sorrow, pain, suffering, death--that is what it has brought to many a household, sheer terrorism to the community. It is hard to speak calmly to the canker which is eating the very heart out of Ireland, and when one thinks of such a case as that of Sergeant Armstrong’s. It becomes well nigh impossible.

  “The whole district acknowledges him to have been an inoffensive man, one who lived for over 20 years here, respected by all. I never heard anyone say that he had done a shabby act, or said an unkind word to anyone, and more, many a time I have heard people speak of his kindly, considerate way of dealing with the public in his official character. A friend of gentle and simple. In private there wasn’t a better friend. Ever ready to do a good turn; to take endless troubles and pains to help anyone he could. He was as popular a man ever wore the uniform of the R.I.C., and his home life what an example he was; a devoted husband and father; one who brought up his children in the fear and nurture of the Lord, who was never happier then when he was at home with his children. As a churchman he rarely missed the services of the church, except when he actually was on duty. Last Sunday I was talking to him for a few minutes just before the Service. The next time I saw him was lying dead on the barrack floor. ‘By their fruits ye shall know them.’ He was a member of our Select Vestry for several years, and took more than a keen interest in the work of the Vestry; only this Spring he spent many an evening working with his boys at the paths in the churchyard, to get them into better order. We will miss his practical help and sound commonsense advice in the Vestry, and the congregation will miss his example of an honest and honourable Christian life, and if, as I believe is true, every one of us feels grief, true grief, at this brutal murder, who will express what are the feelings of his wife and children. I know I cannot. Our whole-hearted sympathy goes out to them in their hour of bitter sorrow, and we can but pray that Our Lord may pour His comfort into their sorrowful hearts. He is the comforter of the afflicted, and can give them that peace which is not the peace of the world.

  “But there is a promise in my text also. ‘He that doeth the will of God shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.’ That bids us lift up our hearts even in this dark hour. The Sergeant was not a man who said ‘Lord, Lord,’ and did nothing. He did the will of God, as far as human being can. So, though he was taken practically in a minute, I do not for one moment believe he was taken unprepared to meet his God. He walked with God in his daily life, and that kind of Christian is never unprepared, and is not that the very best kind of interpretation of Christianity. Not the putting off turning to Christ till the last minute and trusting to what is called a death-bed repentance. I would have much wished to have been with him as his spirit passed into the unseen, but God willed it otherwise, and God knows best. His Holy Will be done. But I believe that if there is one thing pleasing to God it is the living of a Christian life, the doing one’s duty towards God and man. Such a life Sergeant Armstrong lived, and into God’s gracious keeping we commit him till the day break on the Great Resurrection morn, when sorrow and sighing will be done away, and parting and grief will be no more known.

  “What the plans are that the family may have I know not, but while they remain here, as I trust they will do, I solemnly charge every man, woman and child in this congregation, as I do myself, to assist the widow and orphans in every way possible; to help the children especially to avoid the snares and temptations of this wicked world, which are so many, and each to our several ability to show them our estimation of their father’s worth, by our advice, and example and help. As you value your own souls, put, and allow no one else to put, no temptation in their way. I have dwelt this morning on the tragic incident, and ‘the worst day’s work that ever was done in Ballina,’ as I heard someone say as we turned away from the grave. For I believe it is the thought most uppermost in all our hearts to-day. But remember the example sergeant Armstrong has left us, for good is the example of a man it can be said that he did his duty towards God and man. May the same thing be said of us whenever out time come.”

  Preaching at the Evening Service in the same place, from the text “Love Your enemies,” etc., Rev. A. J. Pike also made a sympathetic reference to the tragic death of Sergeant Armstrong.

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SERGEANT THOMAS ROBERT ARMSTRONG

AN APPRECIATION

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“Some day when fades the golden sun

Beneath the rosy-tinted west,

May blessed Lord shall say, ‘well done,’

And I shall enter into rest,

And I shall see him face to face,

Then tell the story—save by Grace.”

“He knew not that the last sunset had come and gone for him on that Wednesday evening; he knew not that the morning of another day on this sin-stained world would not be his to see. That night was his ‘Last Patrol’ in Ballina, that which is known as ‘Death’ would lay its cold hand upon him and ‘his spirit would return to God who gave it. In a few hours after the going on that patrol he was to ‘enter into rest’ and he would hear the Master’s ‘Well done.’ He was to be face to face with the saviour whom he endeavoured to daily walk with here on earth. The writer knew him but a short while, and soon learned to respect him as a God-fearing man; as a man of integrity, ever to be trusted.

  “As a friend—a kind man, and an honourable man of exemplary character. In home life he was known as an affectionate husband and a loving father—his was a pattern home, for he always sought to obey the Heavenly Father. In public life, as police officer, he was ever to be found tactful and gentle. He might well be termed the ‘angel sergeant.’ He always had a peaceful way of doing duty, for love—love of God was a dominating power in his life. Any person he came in contact with not acting in an orderly manner, he spoke to in a fatherly way. His wise words had soothing, compelling power. Like the Saviour, he loved the ways of peace—the way of love. Numerous cases are known of his kind, living acts, and sound advice. Sergeant Armstrong was ready to die. Not long since the writer, in a jocose manner, said to him, owing to current events that his turn might come; little thinking that a man of so inoffensive and gentle disposition would ever share the fate many of his fellow officers suffered. His reply was, in a calm, serious tone, a verse from God’s Word: ‘And fear not them which kill the body, but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body.’

  “Sergeant Armstrong knew that God lived and reigned; that God was a God of love. He knew that Jesus had died for him as for all men, and that though believing in Jesus as Saviour his sins were all forgiven and eternal life was won. Sergeant Armstrong had travelled life’s pathway and his aim all through was to lead a consistent, Christ-like life. His day’s work here below is done, and to-day he joined the white-robed, blood bought throng around God’s throne in his heavenly home. There sin and pain are done away; unrest or discontent are unknown there; the trials and temptations of this world are over. Life is one long day of peace and joy in the presence of the Eternal King. There, in a nobler, sweeter song, he sings Christ’s power to save.”

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   Going back over the files of the Ballina newspapers, “Ballina Herald” and “Western People”, I came across this court case which was held in the town before Mr. D. Crotty, Esq., Resident Magistrate, and in the “Western People” of 6th September, 1906, the paper reported a case in which a local man from the Ardnaree district was charged by Acting-Sergeant Armstrong (who was stationed in Ardnaree barracks), for being drunk and disorderly on the 2nd September. The man was habitually abusing his wife and could be heard fully 600 yards away on each occasion. Defendant created a scene every night in the street.

  The magistrate said the only way to deal with this man was for the police to frame a charge against him to require him to get bail, when in the event of it not being forthcoming he would have to go to jail for twelve months.

  Defendant here handed in a written pledge from the Rev. R. H. Dobbs, Castlebar.

  Magistrate—Who is R. H. Dobbs?

  Defendant—He is the Protestant Curate at Castlebar.

  Magistrate—Are you a Protestant?

  Defendant—Yes, your worship. I follow in my father’s footsteps (laughter).

  Acting-Sergeant Armstrong—He is a Catholic, your worship!

  A fine of 5s. was imposed.

·       A decision was made not to mention the man’s name as he still has relatives living in the area. (PJC).