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Another case at this time, and one which again illustrated the impossibility, no matter what the evidence, to get an Irish jury to convict in cases of violence, was not without its comic aspect. "Faction Fights" were then the regular accompaniment of all fairs, and meetings, about the borders of Limerick and Tipperary. These were simply the result of a "blood-feud."Rumour had it that, in the Dark Ages, two men had a dispute about the age of a heifer. One asserted she was three years old, the other that she was certainly four.Words were followed by blows, and in the fight one of the men was killed. His relations at once sought out, and killed, his assailant. Reprisals followed from his side, and thus from generation to generation, the desccndants of these two men,now divided into the two factions of  "Three-Year-Olds" and "Four-Year-Olds," never met in a fair or market with a fight.
The favourite weapon was always at hand. One of the long woollen stockings worn was whipped off, and a stone knotted in the heel. This was slung round with reckless violence, and woe betide any whose head came in contact with it. One day, during a fair held at Nenagh, after much fighting, and much whisky, many went to sleep in the tents. A few, who were still sober enough, wandered round the fair, and if they saw a head showing under the canvas of an "enemy's" tent, naturally took a "whack" at it. One of these whacks proved fatal, 
and the assailant, being fully identified, was afterwards placed upon his trial. The jury found the usual verdict " Not Guilty " The Judge turned to the jury and said, "Is that your verdict, gentlemen ?" To which the foreman replied, "Yes, my Lord, the jury are of the opinion that a man with a skull as thin as an egg-shell had no business in the fair of Nenagh."      
                         
Ref : Fifty Two Years a Policeman. by Sir William Nott-Bower, K.C.V.O. pub London, 1926. Edward Arnold & Co.