SIR FENTON AYLMER AND MR A. HENRY 



composition John Maher's favoured intimates were 

 solemnly presented. He had three favourite hounds, 

 Gypsy, Fair Maid and Careless. At proper intervals 

 he would make his huntsman leap over a high gate 

 with a half crown between each knee and the 

 saddle, as a means of keeping him up to his horse- 

 manship. The man was suitably admonished if 

 in the act of leaping he let fall either of the coins. 



John Maher ended his life in Naas Gaol, where, 

 as a hopeless debtor, he languished for several 

 years, during which time he had the companion- 

 ship of Mr George Sidwell, of Drunark, in Co. 

 Tipperary, whose affairs were in a similar unfortu- 

 nate posture. It was George Sidwell who fought 

 Sir Charles Saxon on behalf of O'Connell, after the 

 Liberator's taste for such encounters had been 

 spoiled by the tragedy at Oughterard Hill. Lord 

 Glengall wished to pay Sidwell's debts, but this 

 kind offer he very honourably refused, as by so 

 doing he considered he would lose his position 

 among those he considered his equals. So he and 

 Maher made the best of their circumstances in 

 Naas Gaol, then under the genial governorship of 

 Captain Woodruff, and spent what little money 

 they could scrape together in sending out for 

 " something " to cheer their drooping spirits. 



John Maher's father Gilbert never made any 

 effort to release his ne'er-do-well son. It was a 



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