The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-07-16 00:00:00

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN TYRONE.

A MADMAN'S MURDEROUS PROGRESS.

A Newry correspondent reports that one of the
most shocking events that has ever taken place in
the county occurred a short distance from Rathfri-
land, on Saturday morning. James Heslip, the man
who has committed a series of murders, is a saddler
by trade, and has been in business in Rathfriland for
several years. About three years ago he had to be
kept in an asylum for a short time. On Monday of
last week the police arrested him and brought him
before the magistrates, but as no person was present
to swear that he was a dangerous lunatic he was libe-
rated. His relatives took charge of him, and kept
him in their house until Saturday morning. Heslip,
after leaving the house of his relatives, walked over
to his own house. He was next seen to come out
again with a billhook in his hand and walk across
the town in the direction of Ballyroney. He met and
attacked two carters, who whipped their horses,
and so ascaped injury. Other persons, unfortu-
r ately, did not escape. An old man named Samuel
Henning was shortly afterwards found lying insen-
sible and covered with wounds, and beyond hope of
recovery. He next appears to have killed an elderly
woman named Nancy Mulholland, whose body was
gashed and mutilated in a shocking manner. In one
of the fields adjoining the road along which Heslip
was passing some people were making hay. A young
woman named Maggie Spiers, her father, and two
young men were working with scythes. Heslip
entered the field and rushed at them with the bill-
hook. The men defended themselves with their
scythes, and the maniac retreated. He, however,
immediately returned to the attack, and rushed upoa
the men with so much determination that the two
young men were frightened and fled. The madman
then struck the young woman a blow with the bill-
hook on the side of her head, cutting her skull in two
and killing her on the spot. He then attacked her
father, and striking him a dreadful blow knocked
him senseless. Heslip then walked out of the field
and pursued his way along the road. At some
distance from the place where he had murdered
Maggie Spiers and fatally wounded her father, Heslip
met a woman named Eliza Higgins, and attacked
her and beat her about the head with the billhook
until she became unconscious. The doctors are of
opinion that she will not recover. Heslip then
stripped himself and jumped into a lake near at band,
and swam about for some time. Afterwards be
attacked every person who came in his way. The
crowd fled precipitately at his approach. One old
man, however, had provided himself with a weapon
by a tying e
ra.n old bayonet
eni to a
aliie
apa
rpooxl
ye
a, ando
fc
in
af rdonnetsesa
ht
ah
de
by this time apparently expended itself, and, being
bard pressed by the crowd, be ran off and flung
himself into the lake, emerging again in a few
minutes, and charging the crowd again and again.
By this time the police had been summoned. They
found the murderer in the centre of the lake, which
was surrounded by excited people. The constables at
once plunged into the lake, and after a terrible
struggle secured fleslip and brought him on land.
He was then removed' amid the execrations of the
crowd to the police barracks in Rathfriland, and on
the way he narrowly escaped being lynched. Subse-
quently he was taken to Armagh Asylum. On Satur-
day an inquest was opened on the victims, and ad-
journed.

A GENTLEMAN in nothing at all, about to proceed to
the sea, is stopped by a policeman.—Policeman:
What do you mean, sir? You are bathing without a
proper costume, from a prohibited portion of the
shore.—The gentleman: Bathing! Nonsense. I'm
going to commit suicide.—Policeman: Oh, I beg your
pardou; that alters the case!
TILE class was studying the history of the Roman
Empire at the time when Christianity was diffusing
itself through the whole world. The teacher turned
to one of the students and said: Was Rome grow-
ing all this time ?—Pupil : Yes, sir.—The teacher
turned away with such a look on his face that the
boy knew he was wrong, so he added quickly,
Smaller!

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