The Express.
London, England, 1862-12-06 00:00:00

MURDER IN WESTMEATH.

One of the most brutal murders that has been
committed in this county since the ameassination of Mrs.
Sarah Kelly was perpetrated on Monday night at • place
called Doyenne, mid-way on the coach-road between Ath-
lone and Moats. The unfortunate victim was an aged man,
named Michael Bannon, a farmer, who some eight or tea
yearn since returned from America with • little money, and
has lived up to twelve months ago with his friends at Mount
Temple, a few miles from the scene of the murder. At
that time be was induced by • widow Coghlan to marry
her daughter, then but nineteen years old, sod subse-
quently the widow parted with her interest in the farm
at Boyanna for 50/., which Bannon paid to her,
and came to reside there. Bannon since expended a consi-
I derable sum on the farm, and although he left nothing
undone to make his wife comfortable, prompted by her
mother she has led him a very unhappy life, so mach so
that be threatened to sell hie interest in the farm and leave
them. On Monday last Bannon left home for Athlone to
transact some business in a loan bank there, in which be
had money dealings, and returned about eleven o'clock that
night. The story told by his mother-in-law is, that she
was in bed when be returned—his wife had been away with
some friends all day—and having taken his supper, be went
out to an adjoining field to bring in • horse, but he never
returned. His remains were discovered next day about
12 o'clock, frightfully mangled. in a corner of the field, the
head battered to • pulp by two large stones, lying close to the
body„which were covered with blood andlliraios. Mr. Power,
orb-inspector from Moats; Mr. William Fetberston H, and
sub-inspector of Kirkland, of the Glasgow station, were soon
upon the spot, end took the widow “nd her deughter into
custody. Other arrests were subsequently made, but with-
out any clue to the murderer, until Constable Ryan arrested
a man named Bodkin, living in the King's County, seven
miles from the scene of.the murder, with such marks and
tokens upon his person and clothes us can leave no doubt
of his being the person who actually committed the deed.
Bodkin was yesterday fully committed on the charge of
wilful murder by a large bench of magistrates at Moats.
The farm of Boyanna isslose to the road side, the rearlenoe
beloogio: to which is commonly known as the Ivy House,
and this -Bodkin has been an occasional visitor there. It is
said that an intimacy between him and the widow has fee •
length of time existed.—Saunders' News.

(Before the Assistant Judge.)
Belinda Berry, 41, a married woman, very far advanced
in pregnancy, was indicted for stealing five silk handker-
chiefs, the property of George Richard Grapey.
Mr. Bowden prosecuted ; Mr. F. H. Lewis appeared for
the prisoner.
The prosecutor said he was • pawnbroker, carrying on
business at No. 24, Exeter-street. Chelsea ; and on the
18th of November, about four o'clock in the afternoon,
the prisoner came into his shop, and asked him if he had a
pair of curtains for sale. He showed her a pair, which
she said would not suit her, and he then went to see if he
could find Le[ another pair. He found them, and opened DEATH OF A GENTLEMAN IN THE LONDON DOCKS.
them to ber, but she said those would not suit her, and
that she would call again. She took a portemonnai from
at the London Hospital respecting the death of Mr. Samson
—Mr. H ffles Walthew yesterday concluded an Inquiry . Ra
her pocket, and she dropped • penny on the ground.
Jooes, who was killed by falling from • quay in the London
Docks during one of the fop of last month. The deceased
She stooped to pick it up, anti as she stooped he saw her
put a parcel of silk handkerchiefs under her shawl which
were on the counter when he went for the curtains. She and was superintendent engineer to Mesas. Carey
left off the search for the peony, saying it waa DO Übe look- See. shipowners and brokers, of 34, Mark-lane, and on
the French steamer Albert, which was employed in taking
log for it, hot
with.
advised her to continue, believing that the lath ult. bad been engaged examining the scenes of
back to France goeda from the Great Exhibitioo. Upon
she would understand what he meant. She declined to do
so, and moved quickly up the pismire by the side of the
shop. He west after her, and saw her endeavourng to leaving the vessel in the evening be missed his way iaa the
vcstigation, in which the dock committee were represented
conceal the handkerchiefs. He took them from her, and fog, and fell from the unguarded quay into • boat, tractor-
brought her beck int* the shop, sent for • police.oonstable, iug his skull and several of his rib. After a protracted br-
and gave her into custody. The value of the hankerchiefs
was about Ids. by Mr. Humphreys, solicitor the coroner said that in •
James Hirber. polim-constable 151, proved taking the similar case the jury bad returned a verdict censuring the
prisoner into custody, and on her being marched nearly Ifts, dock company. In his opinion, however, it would not be
was found in bar possession. posaible for the immense business of the docks to be el&
Mr. F. H. Lewis addles
the jury on behalf of the Mostly tarried on if the quays were to be encumbered with
prisocer, whom he described as • woman of the most re. barriers end chains. The jury returned • verdict,. " That
eprotable connexions, and the mother of five children. and deceased "I accidentally tilled duriell *bean fni.
was ha advanced in pregaancy. He urged that acts of pa. DEATH PEON DEINKINu WHISKY. Yeetarrlay
firing were common to the condition in which she was, with morning • man named Thomas Burke, aged 35 yeam, •
• complete absence of any felonious intention. If that was labourer, expired in the London Hospital from the effects
the cam it would be the duty of the jury to acquit bar, and lof drinking a large quantity of whisky above proof. The
to restore bar to tier helpless children. deceased had been employed is the London Docks, and by
Mr. Dawes, • gentlemen of independence, said he knew , some means succeeded in seeking with • smell tabs a quart-
her to Ise • highly respectable woman, and that her hue- ; tity of the spirit from • cask unobserved, and when be got
band was • butler in the family of a nobleman, and quite j Coto the street b• fell down in • state of insensibility. He
able to afford every comfort she desired. I wits picked up and the stomach pump applied, add antidotal
The Assistant•JUdge summed up the evidence, and the administered, but without effect.