The Great Convent Trial, 1869

The file is comprised of accounts of the trials in various forms. There are two handwritten volumes by Messers Cherer and Bennett, shorthand writers of 38 Lincoln Inns Field, London. These are Queens Bench copies of the third and fourth day of the trial (5 and 6 February 1869) written verbatim, in question and answer form. The case was heard before Lord Chief Justice Cockburn before a special Jury in Westminster Hall; a bundle of newspaper cuttings stuck to more hardy blue paper, kept by R.H. Dawson, giving accounts of the trial. First day, 3 February 1869, from The Times, 11 February 1869 from Morning Post and the remainder of the accounts from The London Daily Telegraph; a typed copy of the Irish Times reports, from 16 to 18 of February plus 25 February 1869; a photocopy of the full transcript of the trial; and one document with extracts from Sister M. Joseph's evidence. The file also includes answers to 'the Bill of Complaint' by the plaintiff, Susan Saurin by the ten named defendant Sisters of Mercy, filed in Chancery on 3 July 1869. The defendants are were 'Mary Ann Star' [M Joseph Star RSM], 'Julia Kennedy' [M. Magdalen Kennedy RSM], 'Mary MacOwen' [M. Agnes MacOwen RSM], 'Anne King' [M. Clare King RSM], 'Mary Neligan' [M Bernard Neligan RSM], 'Mary Rafter' [M. Gonzaga Rafter RSM], 'Florence Mary Curr '[M Elizabeth Curr RSM], 'Ellen Fearon' [M. Evangelista Fearon RSM], 'Frances Theresa Dawson' [M. Stanislaus Dawson RSM] and 'Ann McCartan' [M. Philomena McCartan RSM].