The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-03-15 00:00:00

MEATH ASSIZES.

MURDER.
C. Neegan was indicted for the murder of Ann Feely, by stray-
/Sag her.
Catherine Wocd lives at Surnmerhill; Ann Feely was her sis-
ter ; saw her last dive on the Tuesday before Christmas Day ; on
that day witness sent deceased from Summer hill to Dublin, to sell
some wooden-ware; saw her on Christmas Eve, when she lay dead
on the road about a quarter of a mile from her house. When the de-
eeined left witness to go to Dublin. she was gay and in perfect good
health ; she was about sixteen; when witness saw her lying on the
reed, her chitties were all dirty and torn to pieces, and her eyes
full of gravel and dirt.
Cross-examined—The deceased left Dublin on her return home.
with a man named Byrne. a efunnan ; deceased was never subject
albs or illness; there was found en the deceased a half crown,
one shilling, and one tenpenny piece, with some goods under her
arm.
J. Fitssimons, a carman, was in Dublin in December and left
it two days before Christmas; knew Ann Feely ; she accompanied
witness four mites out of Dublin on her way home, and was in good
health and spirits; knows W. Byrne, a carman; he was coining
up with an empty dray. and nothing at all on it; when the de-
ceased asked lain as witnese's dray was loaded, if he would give
her a •• lift" towards home, and Byrne said he would ; the de-
ceased then got on Byrne's dray, and they soon got out of witness's
reght
%V. Byrne—Lives within a mile of Summerhill. (Here witness
confirmed the statement of the last witness as to the deceased hav-
ing got up on his dray about four miles from Dublin.) Prisoner
was sitting on a separate dray, and when they came to a public.
house on the road between Sutumerhill and J)unboyne, called the
Hatchet, prisoner and the deceased sat on the same dray. They
had fire noggins at whiskey at the public.house, between five
peritone. The deceased took some at different times, about one
glass in all. Prisoner pressed her to drink. Witness and prisoner
stepped at another publtr-houle on the road after they were at the
Hatchet, and had a couple of noggins more of spirits. Deceased
did not drink any at the last puhite-house. The prisoner and de-
ceased walked and sat upon the dray oecasionatiy, and appeared
friendly. They sat with their backs to the horses, and were il2
conversation, sitting close together. When the dray arrived at the
aoss roads of Moynaley, witness asked prisoner why he did not go
home, wettest vies Ms road. It was then shout seven ar-etght o'clock
and dark (93d December). Prisoner said he would go on to the
cross road at Spring Valley. and when they came to that place pri-
soner and the deceased left witness anti bade hint good night. Wit.
ens tutted doomed if she would be afraida go home in the dark
by herself? She then was about a quarter of a mile from home.
Deceased said she could nut be atraid. She was then in good
health and spirits. Prisoner antltieeeased then went together to-
wards Stimmerhill, which was not the way to the prisoner's house.
Witness then gave a description of het clothes, which were neither
torn nor dirty. Prisoner went at least half a mile out of his way
by coming to the cross.roade at earring Valley. Witness on going
borne fell asleep at the fire, and he was awoke by a knocking at
tee door, when on asking who it was, and opening it, the prisoner
came in with his coat very wet and dirty, arid asked witness to feel
the weight of it, it was so wet. Witness slid not feel it. Pri-
tomer then sat down at the lire, and afterwards awoke witness to ha
him out. and on his going away, desired witness not to say to say
that he had seen him. or that he had been at his ('A linen's)
loust that night, as he would not wish it for fifty shillings. Saw
deceased the next morning lying dead on the road, et the corner of
the crossroad.
T. King, knew Ann Feely, and met her on the night but ore
before- Chriatmas-day, in company with a man, within three or
four perches of Spring Valley ; tae man had Las hand round her
neck, and witness bail her good night, to which elle replied, " gooJ
might, kindly." The man did not speak.
Shelley discovered the body of the deceased on the morning
of Chrlstmes-day ; she was lying on her side on the road, and her
head on her arm; there were marks on the ground of great
" bustling" and " struggling," and one of her shoos was about a
perch limn her ; it was about a quarter of a mile to her home from
sit plate where she was discovered.

rOt cf.:T.isA been called to examine the body of the deceased,
myna wipe) he (mind several marks of violence—on the legs, ehe,t,
and odier pests of the body, particularly on the neck sod chest ;