These took place in connection with a motion to quash the verdict of a coroner's jury, held in August 1887, on the body of a child named Ellen Gaffney, at Philipstown, in King's County, which preserves the memory of the Spanish sovereign of England, as Maryborough in Queen's preserves the memory of his Tudor consort.

Cervantes never imagined an Alcalde of the quality of the "Crowner"' who figures in this story.

Were it not that his antics cost a poor woman her liberty from August 1887 till December of that year, when the happy chance of a winter assizes set her free, and might have cost her her life, the story of this ideal magistrate would be extremely diverting.
A child was born to Mrs.Gaffney at Philipstown on the 23d of July, and died there on the 25th of August 1887, Mrs.Gaffney being the wife of a "boycotted" man.
A local doctor named Clarke came to the police and asked the Sergeant to inspect the body of the child, and call for an inquest.

The sergeant inspected the body, and saw no reason to doubt that the child had died a natural death.

This did not please the doctor, so the Coroner was sent for.