The Express.
London, England, 1851-10-04 00:00:00

(trots the L. inster Erpress.)

On Wednesday tho following magistrates attended
at Abbeyleix, to resume the investigation with regard to
the murder of the late Mr. Edward White, near Ballyrona
R. 11. Stubber, D.L. (in the chair), W. W. Despard, Tho-
mas nosey J. Lyater, F. Marsh, Pat Laylor, and Thomas
Cannon, Esqrs. The examinations were numerous
and protracted, and did not conclude until after eight
o'clock, when Patrick Maher was fully committed for trial
at the next assizes, on the charge of conspiracy ; and John
Damn was remanded for further examination. The several
informations having been read over for Doran, and the
usual caution given him, he was asked if he wished to make
any statement.
Mr. Laffan (after consulting the prisoner) said—lf ho
makes a statement, will you hear evidence in support of it?
Their worships said they would not.
. .

Prisoner—'Then I decline making any statement, in con-
sideration of the refusal of evidence being heard in support
of such statement. I have plenty of witnesses hero to
prove that I could not have been at the murder.
Mr. Laffau—Do your worships feel yourselves authorised
to take any bail ?
Magistrates—Not at present.
From the mass of evidence taken, we select the following
particulars:—On the 21st of July last Mr. White was at
Ballyroan ; there wee also a party of men on it laying claim
to portions of the bog, and the prisoner Maher was the
ostensible leader of that party, and at the same time he used
violent language, called Mr. White a tyrant landlord, and
'said that lie should never enjoy the bog. A gentleman
who was present on the occasion observed to Maher that
" never" was a long day. On the morning of the murder,
about six o'clock, Maher and another man (who was a
stranger) were observed by a shopkeeper in Abbeyleix, ap-
proaching his shop. The strange man was in qilsance, com-
ing towards the door, and the shopkeeper's impression being
that both were coming in to buy reaping hooks, he passed
over to another counter for the purpose of supplying them.
mhah eeeos longabso wfc rc*rujiae:t descriptionaihnn igd armsafmat from
straw
onl ut
hg sameg.; morning
While doing tribe lust sight of the two men. Ile afterwards
only noticed the strange man coming into the shop, but in-
stead of buying a reaping hook, the purchase he made was
a half-pennyworth of detonating caps. The man wore a
large dark outside coat, nude straw bat. This description an-
swers that given by another witness, who stated that the man
Another witness met a
near the scene
;hi
eow
dchoictrendt.
ihueoscs;
ebbe::
but notice
uflycrediet,?itw, of
or
him,wore
his arm, which be then believed to be a reaping hook, but
obfutthcoenntsiudredreder;if hheehhaadde"spootml:ceething lodged in the hollow of
since thinks it was a pistol. It was sworn that at the time
of calling in firearms, and re-issuing them to those obtain-
inktathe proper heense, I'atrick Maher surrendered up
a , a blunderbuss, and a pistol, which were given back
to im again on procuring the requisite license fur such fire-
arms, and in which they were duly specified. After the
report of the murder having reached the Itallyroan police
station, the constabulary spread themselves in every direc-
tion to endeavour to obtain some clue to the perpetrator.
One of them having heard that Patrick Maher was seen
going in the direction of Abbeyleix a short time before,
went to his house, and not finding him there, asked for his
firearms. The stepfather pointed out the gun and the blun-
derbuss. On inquiriag for the rest of the arms, he was told
by the old man he knew nothing client them. There was
neither powder nor ammunition in the house at the time.
Having been informed that Maher was working for a person
of the name of Mullhall, at 'Newtown, he proceeded at
once to that place. When he arrived at the field he asked
the prisoner, John, Doran, where were the rest of them.