The Murder of Michael Morrissey — 1846

In nineteenth-century St. John's, violence could erupt quickly, and sometimes the victim and accused were both far from the place they once called home.

In 1846, a man named Michael Morrissey was murdered in St. John's.

The historical record identifies Morrissey as a native of Dungarvan, County Waterford, Ireland, and names Timothy Ryan as his alleged killer.

That tells us something important about nineteenth-century Newfoundland.

St. John's wasn't an isolated little settlement. It was a busy Atlantic port filled with people who had crossed the ocean from Ireland, England and elsewhere, looking for work and opportunity.

Morrissey was one of those immigrants.

But his Newfoundland story ended in murder.

What we know about Michael Morrissey is that he was murdered in St. John's and that Timothy Ryan was identified as the alleged killer.

A Times and General Commercial Gazette newspaper from Oct. 21, 1846, says, “On Saturday evening past, upon view of the body of Michael Morrissey a fisherman, of St. John’s it appeared by the evidence of those who had attended the deceased before this death, and almost immediately after that two or three wounds had been inflicted upon him by Timothy Ryan, with a hatchet, that they were of such a nature as to cause death, particularly that on the right side of the head, which fractured the scull and which fracture appeared to be produced by the blow of a blunt and heavy instrument such as the pole of a hatchet. The other wound appeared to be inflicted with a sharp instrument, most likely the edge of the hatchet. The whole evidence before the jury being so clear on the malice and deliberation of the act, they did not long hesitate in finding a verdict of Wilful Murder against Timothy Ryan.”

On Dec. 16^th, 1846, the trial of Timothy Ryan began. The Article from the Courier says, “The street opposite the Court House was thronged at an early hour by a large concourse of people, who showed very great anxiety to witness the trial of the unfortunate culprit. The prisoner seated opposite the fire looked pale, emaciated, and very ill. The judges allowed the prisoner to recline on a bed in the dock.”

Several people testified, and many said Mr. Ryan was not right in the head and was known for doing odd things. The two witnesses who saw the murder said there was no provocation for it. The two men were just talking when Ryan picked up the axe.  The judge told the jury, “It must be clear whether he understood the difference between right and wrong and whether he was insane at the time.” Then he said, “I must confess it is not to me.”

The jury took one hour and returned with a verdict of acquittal, the prisoner not being of sane mind when he killed the deceased. The prisoner was ordered to be detained in custody until Her Majesty’s pleasure be ascertained.

St. John’s was a very different city in 1846. It’s where young Michael Morrissey from Ireland came to work as a fisherman and was murdered for no reason at all