Half-hung McNaughton's hiding place.

Image: © Kenneth Allen Taken: 20 Jul 2006

The eighteenth century scandal mainly involved two people. The woman was Miss Ann Knox of Prehen, a townland near Londonderry. Ann was the daughter of Andrew Knox of Prehen House, an influential and well to do gentleman. The man was John McNaughton (MacNaghten), a member of the same social class as Knox. John fell in love with Ann and tried to be near her at all times. Andrew Knox opposed any marriage and both Andrew and Ann were wary of John's constant efforts to maintain contact. McNaughton claimed that they were secretly married. Andrew Knox made great efforts to protect his daughter and eventually, in 1760, set out to transport Ann to Dublin in a coach, protected by armed outriders. John McNaughton and several associates concealed themselves in a little road adjoining Burndennett (Burndenit) Bridge, a short distance from Sandville. They stopped the coach and a short discussion ensued, followed by gunfire. McNaughton fired at the coach occupied by Andrew Knox and his daughter and Ann died from the bullet. McNaughton fled to the hayloft in Sandville. Armed searchers initially were unable to find him as the local people remained silent. Finally one man pointed to the hiding place and local tradition maintained that he lost that arm in a mill accident. Another story maintains that McNaughton eventually was captured in Antrim. McNaughton was convicted and sentenced to be publicly hanged in an open field at Strabane. He spoke to the crowd, saying he loved his wife and had been kept from her. The rope broke and the crowd shouted for him to fly, but McNaughton declared that he was not going to be known as "half-hanged McNaughton" and advised the hangman to get on with his work. The rope did not break again but his name did live on in legend as "half-hanged McNaughton." I noted that property had deteriorated when I called by in 2010 Image] He is reputed to have stayed here Image]

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