In 1816 George Warburton was appointed chief magistrate over a force of fifty constables to quell disturbances in the baronies of Moyarta, Ibrickan and Clonderlaw. By 1820 he was responsible for preserving the peace in all of County Clare. Drawing on evidence given by Warburton to two select committees in 1825, Michael Mac Mahon describes the contemporary political, economic or social life of the county and the modus operandi of the newly established police force. Clare County Library is grateful to Michael Mac Mahon for donating this article which was published in The Other Clare, vol. 28 (2004)