they were on Aylen's payroll or for some other reason looked the other way. When pursued, all that the hooligans had to do to evade arrest was cross the border into Lower Canada. As there was no jail or courthouse in Bytown, those who were arrested had to be transported to Perth, Ontario, for trial. However, poorly-paid officers were reluctant to make the 50-mile trip, fearing being ambushed along the way.

The Irishmen also controlled the Union Bridge