The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-09-17 00:00:00

MURDER BY MOONLIGHTERS.

A HEAD CONSTABLE KILLED.-CAPTIJRI3
OF THE ASSASSINS.

A terrible moonlighting affray took place on Sun-
day night near Lisloonvarna, county Cl e. Accord-
ing to a statement communicated by. one of the
ccnstables who took part in the affair, e and seven
comrades, under the command of H ad-constable
Whelan, were placed on special duty inside the farm-
house of Thomas Sexton, the authorities having re-
ceived private information that an attack would be
made on the house on the Sunday night. Their
information proved to be true, for about eleven
o'clock the tramping of a body of men was heard,
followed by a whispered consultation outside the
louse. A few minutes later the moonlighters
knocked loudly at the door and demanded admission.
One of the constables pretended to parley with the
intruders, thus lulling any suspicion which they
might have entertained. At a sign from
Head-constable Whelan the moonlighters were
admitted and the door instantly closed and
locked. Then for the first time the maran-
ders realis.ed that they had fallen into a trap. In-
stantly they made a rush for the door, and at the
same moment the police dashed at them and at-
tempted to arrest the entire gang. A terrific struggle
ensued. Policemen and moonlighters became so
mixed up that neither side dared fire for fear of kill-
ing their comrades, although all the policemen and
most of the moonlighters were armed with rifles' and
some with revolvers. The combatants, therefore,
used sticks, clubbed rifles, and chairs. In the middle
of the fight the door was either unlocked or forced
open, and three of the moonlighters managed to
make their escape, although all were it is known, I
badly wounded. The remainder of the gang, five in
number, were secured after another furious struggle. I
men, hand not till then, the police were able to ascer-
tain the extent of their casualties. Head-constable
Whelan lay on the ground dead, from a wound in the.
head, caused apparently by some sharp instrument
such as a spade. Another constable was found on the
ground with his skull so battered that it is not prob-
able that he can recover. Of the other constables, not
one J.,caped without injury, and several were found to
be very seriously wounded. The prisoners, all of
whom were wounded, were handcuffed, and ultimately
lodged in jail. According to an Ennis correspondent,
Head-constable Whelan took no part in the fight
inside the house, but remained on the watch outside.
Whiht so engaged a second party of moonlighters un-
expectedly came on the scene, and, seeing Whelan
alone, attacked him and battered in his skull with
stones. The murder accomplished, the second
gang fled without making any attempt to assist
their comrades :inside. Thomas Sexton, the
farmer whose house was the scene of this
terrible tragedy, came under the ban of the
National League for letting land which he had
inherited from his recently deceased father, and from
which the former tenant bad been evicted. Sexton
was boycotted, and subsequently received threatening
letters. Head-constable Gerald Whelan, a highly
intelligent and efficient officer, was entrusted with the
duty of protecting Sexton's house, and left Ennis for
that purpose on Friday last: He leaves a widow and
four children, for whom much sympathy is expressed
by all classes. Colonel Turner, resident magistrate,
County-inspector Heard, and Inspector Otter have
arrived at Lisdoonvarna, and have commenced an
inquiry into the circumstances connected with
Whelan'e murder.
Reports from Millstreet, county Cork, state that
moonlight raids took place in that district during the
early hours of Sunday morning. The houses visited
were near police-stations, but no arrests were made.

Ten persons who have been arrested in connection
with the murder of Head-constable Whelan were
lodged in Galway Gaol on Tuesday night.