The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-04-25 00:00:00

THE HORRIBLE ASSASSINATION IN
IRELAND.

We (Freenieh's Jou rod)regret to have to record the
commission of a murder, accompanied with Cif.
cumstances of the utmost deliberation, which took
place on Wednesday in last week, in the generally
Peaceable county of Westmeath. The victim of the
crime was Howard Featherstonhaugh, Esq., of Brack-
lyn Castle, a deputy-lieutenant of the county, and a
large landed proprietor. Mr. Featherstonhaugh was a
gentleman who took a very active share in public
business both as a magistrate and grand juror of the
county in which his estates are situated, and his name
and that of the various members of his family fre-
quently appeared amongst the guests at Dublin ttastle
at the various halls and private partii s recently given
in it. The unfortunate gentleman was in Dublin on
Wednesday participating in the general welcome ac-
corded to the royal visitors, and he proceeded by the
mail train at 7'30 p.m. to return to his residence. At
Kaman, within five miles of Mullingar, which was
the customary station at which he stopped on his way
home, a servant was in waiting with his master's trap,
to convey him to Bracklyn t'astle, which lies in the
direction of Delvin, which is the post town. Bracklyn
Is about four miles from Killocan, and about equidis-
tant between both places there is a wild tract of country
very thinly inhabited, named Knocksheban, and it
would appear that at this place, which afforded facili-
ties by its solitariness and seclusion for the commission
of the dreadful deed, the yehieleiu which Mr. Feather-
stonhaugh was driving arrived at about half-past nine
o'clock, and was intercepted there by a party of men,
some of whom were possessed of firearms, and he was
dragged out upon the road, and several shots were
fired into hie body, with instantaneously fatal effect.
The party having completed the bloouy deed then
dispersed without molesting the attendant, who, after
, some time, succeeded in raising the body of his ieur-
I dered master into the vehicle and conveying it to his
residence. Prompt information was given to the police
authorities in Mullingar, Dolvin, 'Ohioan, and all the
surrounding stations, and parties were despatched in
every direction to scour the country, with a view to
lake arrests of some of the perpetrators of the crime.
It is rumoured that the murder had its origin in
agrarian causes.

The Dubleit Mail of Thursday night observes :
" Who that witnessed the expression of the wide
popular opinion of Ireland yeeterilay could suppose
that Irish disaffection was the cause of the murder of
Mr. Featheietonhaugh last night? Who is reckless
enough to use that horrid deed as an argument for
kindling the tire of civic strife in the country?
The voice of the foreign disturber was uttered in the
shot to which Mr. Featherstonhaugh fell, in protest
againg that declaration fatal to the design of all die.
turbers. There are wretches, like those who fired the
gunpowder at Clerkenwell, capable of sacrificing any
amount of innocent life in the pursuit of their odious
schemes ; there are other wretches, scarcely less guilty,
ready to turn such crimes to factious account. If we
could hope that common sense would rule public
opinion and political action, we might surely expect
that the voice of a prosperous and contented people
would not always be drowned in the howl of the
democratic demagogue, or even in the report of the
gun of the foreign assassin."

An inquest has been held on the body, but no clue
as to the perpetrator of the dreadful outrage was
afforded. The coachman of the deceased gentleman,
who was arrested on suspicion has been liberated, no
proof having been adduced Of his complicity in the
foul crime.

A large number of the resident gentry and friends at-
tended at the inquest, and appeared to be much
horrified at the barbarity of the murder. Much
sympathy was manifested for the members of the
deceased gentleman's family, under their painful
bereavement. The coachman was the only direct
witness examined. He stated that he was driving up
Knockshebane-hill from the railway station at
Killucan shortly before ten o'clock, when he heard a
shot fired, and saw some smoke. He heard his master
exclaim that he was shot, but the night being very
dark lie could not see who fired. He immediately
sought assistance at the nearest house, that of a person
named Reilly, and proceeded as soon as possible to,
Bracklyn, the residence of his master, about six milec,
from Killucan.

Reilly, the person above alluded to, was next exa-
mined, and corroborated last witness's evidence so far
as it regarded himself. 1/rs. Moray .aad 114Maass
gave surgical evidence to the effect that having made
a pod-mortem examination of the body, they found
two slugs. which had passed through tate right arm,
heart, and lungs of the deceased._

--
The jury returned an open verdict of wilful sr,trctee
against some person or persons unknown. Immo,
chattily after the event took place, the police from the
three surrounding stations commenced a search of all
the adjacent liouses, but without obtaining the slightest
particle of iffformation. The search wan continued
during the following day also, but with like success
and up to Friday evening no clue whatever had b'sen,
discovered in connection with this fearful murder.
The Dublin Gazette contains the announcetaent that
for the better apprehending and bringing to justice the
perpetrators of the outrage, his Excellency the Lord-
Lieutenant iK pleased to offer a reward of one bun-
dred pounds to any person or persons who shall.
within six months from the 17th inst., give such In-
formation as shall lead to the arrest of the person or
persons who committed the name; and A further
reward of fifty pounds to any person who, within the
82.11143 period, shall give such private information aa
shall lead to the arrest of the perpetrator or p,rpe-
I trators of the said outrage. The reward will be paid
on conviction.

Saunders' Nears says :—" Further partieule:,a re.
specting the murder of the late Mr. Featheret.athaugh
confirm the opinion which we originally expressed, that
the atrocious deed was of an agrarian character. All
the facts that have been elicited tend to show that the
lamented gentleman has fallen a victim to a foul con-
spiracy. The disposition unhappily too often evinced
by the small farmers aml peasantry in some parts of
Ireland to sympathise with the perpetrators of these
deeds of violence was manifested on this occasion bytho
tenantry of Mr. Featherstonhaugh, as well as by others
who lived near the Beene if the aksassination. The re-
fusal of several to assist the coachman to convey home
the body of his master was most disgraceful, aml the
absence of the tenantry from the funeral was an
equally significant circumstance. We regret to Kay
that as yet no clue has been obtained likely to lead to
the discovery of the murderer, and there is but too
much reason to fear, from the spirit displayed by the
people of the district, that he will be screened by them
from the pursuit of justice."