The Death Of Staker Wallis

In a little while Captian Oliver and his yeomen arrived at the house where Wallis was being held by Roger Sheedy and the herdsman, Casey. The prisoner was then conveyed to Kilfinane and lodged in the jail. Next day Oliver visited Wallis in jail, and offered him his freedom and a large sum of money if he would tell who were involved with him in the United Irishmen and where their arms were hidden.¹ We are told that Wallis's reply was "No! Oliver, never! I'll see you blind first"² Later, Oliver was again to visit Wallis in prison, and renew his offer, but again Wallis refused to inform on his comrades.

A now enraged Oliver decided to try other means to make his prisoner talk, He had him brought out of the jail yard, had his hands tied together in front of him, and had him stripped to the waist. He was then tied to the back of a cart, which was driven through the main street of Kilfinane, while a burly Palatine named Berghmann flogged him with a cat-o-nine-tails all the way until they reached the market house, where Wallis collapsed unconscious. He was then thrown into the cart, taken back to jail and thrown into his cell³.......