NEWSPAPER ARTICLES  

A Romance – A Man Saved from the Gallows by Marriage!

The Ottawa Citizen
Tuesday Morning, October 27, 1863

The case of PATRICK NAGLE, an Irishman, charged with rape, was called on. The girl, a very interesting person, came into Court. Much interest was excited, and a great number of persons were present to hear the trial. The man, a rather good looking fellow, seemed to be deeply in fear of the dangers that surrounded him. Mr. JAMES O’REILLY, of Kingston, appeared for the defence; SIR HENRY SMITH for the Crown. When the case was called, Mr. O’REILLY “challenged the array” of jurors, evidently for the purpose of throwing the case over until next Assizes, he having stated previously that the man was desirous of marrying the girl, and no doubt would be able to do so, she being willing. In that case, the Crown would have no evidence against him, as a wife cannot appear as evidence against her husband. Mr. O’REILLY’s challenge was allowed, and the trial of the case was therefore adjourned until next court, on the ground that the jury were only summoned from the city of Ottawa and the township of Gloucester, and should have been taken from the whole county and not any particular locality. It was suggested by the learned counsel for the defence that the prisoner was willing to marry the girl, and made an application to admit bail. The JUDGE stated that if the girl would consent to marry him, and he could be assured of the security of the man, he would grant the application. Upon Mr. O’REILLY giving the necessary assurance to the Court, bail was taken and the man and girl left the court to go before a clergyman to have the knot tied. We understand that the learned counsel was present, and thus by his ingenuity saved his client; for, no doubt, if the prisoner had been tried he would have been found guilty. Thus a man was saved from the gallows, and got a wife into the bargain!

Caught at Last

The Ottawa Citizen
Thursday Morning, July 20, 1865

“For some time past the police authorities of this city have been engaged in collecting evidence in the case of a well-known swindler, who as been playing the confidence game in various parts of Canada, and yesterday they had the satisfaction of arresting the object of their search at Richmond, by virtue of a warrant issued from Toronto. The prisoner, who is known by the name of Dougall C. McNab, alias James Cassleman, has been in the habit of defrauding parties after the following fashion. A circular, printed as from a general agency office, is addressed to a party, whose family affairs have been previously studied, stating that a certain friend or relation had recently died, bequeathing a certain amount of property to the party addressed, which will be forwarded on the receipt of $8.00, the sum required to defray the expense of the legal documents. Detective O’Neil, accompanied by Constable Morrison, made the arrest yesterday as above stated. The prisoner was lodged in gaol last night, and will be escorted to Toronto by Detective O’Neil to-morrow. The evidence of the rascals guilt is both conclusive and plentiful. Those who have been victimized by this “confidence man,” and who have not yet made known the fact, should do so at once to the Police authorities.

Mr. Dougal C. McNab

The Ottawa Citizen
Tuesday Morning, July 25, 1865

Mr. Dougal C. McNab – We give to-day, from the Globe, an interesting account of the arrival of the notorious confidence man, Mr. Dougal C. McNab, in Toronto. Our Toronto contemporaries have erroneously put Detective O’Neil, of this city, down as Government Detective connected with the frontier police. Mr. O’Neil is highly and deservedly complimented for the able manner in which he has brought to light the machinations of this “artful dodger.