The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-12-17 00:00:00

MURDER.

On 'Thursday last an Inquest was held before James
O'Brien, Esq. one of the Coroners of the County Cork, at
Middleton, en the body of lieutenant Swayer, who came by
ibis death on the preceding Monday morning, from a shot fired
from • goo by John M'Carthy, the laadlord of the.iltuutt
id lima *rm.
Doctor Cooke being sworn and examined, stated, that about
half-past ten o'clock on the preceding Sunday night, lie, Mr.
John M'Call, and deceased, went to.tite house of John M.Car-
thy, who keeps the Bash Ina. They were sitting in the por.
lour taking some wine, and were attended by M'Carthy in
person. Mr. M•Call, in the course of the conversation, took
down a small picture from the wall, on doing which Mr.
M'Carthy said he had lately bought some pictures, and asked
him if hewittbed to see them. Mr. M•Call said, " Yes ;" upon
which M'Cartby went out and brought in four pictures, ate
of which he offered for ten shillings, and for which Mr.,
M'Call said he would toss up whether he would give him ten
shillings or five. They did, and M'Call won. Deceased and
M•Call then tossed up for the same picture, and it became the
y of deceased;
Ftr,oricdt would part with it to him. M'Carthy agreed, and they
tossed up, upon which a disagreement took place as to the
terms, M'Carthy insisting that he was to get money, add de-,
ceased that he was only to get the picture. Abusive words
followed from both sides. Witness, in order to put an end to
the dispute, and seeing that M'Carthy was disposed to he in-
solent, offered to pay any value he would put oo the picture if
he mould go out of the room, which he refused; Nl•Carttry was
not drunk. Whets M'Carthy refused at witness's request to
leave the room, deceased desired him peremptorily to quit,
which he again refused, and deceased then rose for the purpose
of putting him out, but was held by witness, who called to
M•Carthy to open the hall door, and that he, the witness would
take Mr. Swayne out, *earthy said he would not—that he had
attended them long enough, and then rang the bell and seated him-
self on a chair, having before been standing. Mr. Swayne
struggled to get free from witness, who still held him, upon
which M'Carthy said—" Mr. f3wayne. if you attempt to molest.
I will positi%ely take your life," and immediately left the
room. During his absence witness forced Mr. Swayne as far
as the parlour door, and called to Mr. M•Call to open the hail
door, in order to take him out, which that gentleman went to
do, and jam then liMarthy appeared and came before Mr.
Swayne, who was 1.. front of witness, and who mid he would
not be bullied by his gun, and disengaging himself by an ex-
ertion from witness, was about to rush on M'Carthy, when on
the instant the latter let fiy, the gun being poised from about
his hip, and when it went off the muzzle was not more than six
inches from deceased. M•Carthy's absence, in procuring the
gun, was about five minutes, and on his return be got round
witness and deceased, so as to front the latter; not more than
four seconds elapsed after his return when he fired. On the
shot being fired, deceased reeled, turned round on his heel and
fell, saying to witness—" James, I'm shot—l believe killed—
this isn't the place I ought to have fallen—l wouldn't mind
if it had been at Waterloo." Deceased lived till ye-terday ;
the hip bone was broken, and though the body bas not been
opened, be has no doubt that his death was caused by the shot,
from certain symptoms. After the transaction M'Carthy left
the room, but soon returned, and said that the wound could not
be mortal, it was only small shot was in the gun; upon which
witness said, " You murderous ruffian, is that the wny you at
tempt to palliate such an act."—M•Carthy then said—" Take'
care, 'twits such language as that brought him (meaning de-
ceased) to the state in which he lies." Witness desired him to
quit his presence, bat he remained in the room while witness
was dressing the wound, and was assisting quite coolly, having
brought down a shirt, mattress, water, &c. Deceased Was un-
married and about 28 years of age.
The Verdict was " Wilful Murder" against John M'Carthy,
for whose apprehension a reward has been offered by the Bar-
rymore Cavalry.

EXTRAOIMICARY SUICIDE.—The smack Duke of
Welliogtos, of Ilfracombe, J. LF.T master, sailed from
Penzance on the 3d inst. When off Lundy Island,
they encountered a severe squall of wind, and soon
after the master complained of illness, when the mate,
an able seaman belonging to Penzance, named Tonkin,
advised him to go below, assuring him that every pos-
sible care would be taken of the vessel. With this
advice he complied, and remained below all night,
during which the vessel was kept under easy sail.—
In the m9rning he came on deck and said he was
better ; when, after walking about for a few mi-
nutes, he laid his hand on the rough-tree, said, " good
bye, lam going," and jumped overboard. The boat
was got out as speedily as possible, but before any as-
sistanck could be efforded, he sunk ; mate took
the vessel into Newort. from whence the
written
to the friends of the deceased. Mr. Ltir was not a
regularly-bred seaman, having been originally a
house-corpenter.