The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-08-04 00:00:00

IRISH ASSIZES.
CLARE.
HORRIBLE fiIIIRDER. •
Honors Conearron was indicted for the murder of IV. Higgins.
n wretched old man, who got his living as an itinerant brorae, on
the eight of baster Sunday. at Comfit', in the county et Clare.
he circumstances of this case evinced. more hardness of heart, •
ere of a bloody and barbarous disposition, than perhaps any case
flat ever disgraced the criminal records of tins country.
The first witness knew Higgins. (In Easter Saturday she saw
ht a in the prisoner's cabin. On Sunday the now him beggieg.
returned so the prisoner's house In
th evening, and she neve
whim after. Monday morning pr he
, who lived in an adjoin-
r
'my cabin, came to wittier 's dwelling. She zeketi witness whether
eite heard Ili ins make a noise on going from her tenter early that
rimming; witness replied th a she. heard To noise. In the evening
of Monday the prisoner came again nun reeneeted of witness to
cop with her ; motets at tint declined, but the prisoner pressed
her. and (in order to induce her) she took up witness a hid and car.
red it into her own house.
Connor Higgins, son to the euvered, said. that on Tucs'ey he
stw the trunk of his father's body. the head arel legs were cut off!
The body was found in a pool. itnese. :he search being
made in the prisoner's cabin. frond an oil stocking and a great
can which belonged to his father. Witness afterwards saw the ;
head and legs of his father's body.
Thc evidence of this witness was corroborated by that of his
Mother.
Thinkine Brew, Esq—Mimosa is a 3legietrate ; having heard
that the think -f a man's body was found in the river at Currsiln,
he attended at the Inquest. Witness observed marks of blood from
e cabin of the primer to • meadow in the direction of the river
At that meadow he ceased to trace the blood. Witness observed
on the prisoner's clothes several marks of bleed. There was blond
en %etre stones, and blood under straw on the prisoner's cabin.
Wither wasnot satisfied with havino merely discovered that Morel, :
be was determine! to search metre reieutely; he tithed for the key '
of the chat; he got the key ard opened the dies'. Thee:. was a
relteunnn present who took the things out of the o..cst. whiln wit.
are bald the lid; the policeman took out a quilt, and °tarred that
it was heavier than it ought to have been. On taking out the quilt
7-.1 old furze grey coat was tacked to it. Witness saw the grimace
efrenrurds in gaol, and had conversations with her. The prisoner ;
mentioned to wiener that a certain individusl, whom slue named, •
was diapason who had committed the murder. (On being ersired
by to state the name of the in:livid:n:l) witness ail that
the peietwier named Patrick; she said dint Petrick gave
tie derailed • blow with a heavy s
ads* tin the side of the bead as !
tse slept, and that she held the leg of the deceasel whilst Patrick
1 was committing the murder; and when the leper were
e'er off. in order to account for having the blood on her clothes. she
deoceithrl heinelf as standing In a particular position during the
cemm'siion of the horrid deed.
al-. \ftlliam Taylor holder a sitnatinn in the police. In the
month of April last. witness foiled ;he 'teed et' the deceased ie a
etream short fortyperches from the pr:, louse.: he found the
laws of the deer ennsealed in the same place ; there was a atone
V.e.eed over theta. Ile went to search for them in the same place ,
where he found them, in enneeqtrence of a letter which he had Cr.:
mived, and which pointed eat the place. That letter has been Since
1:•• ; he made a search for it, hut could not find it.
en his cots..exeminatien, the witness said that the bend, when
f e as injured and ti,stigttree.
pct, ttu Coffee went to a small spring veil, and in the stream
that hanerl from that well he found the body end lee of die de.
crewel. He went to that place in conrequence o. informg ation which
1.1 had rue led been a certain quarter.
Watkins is in the police. lie gave directions to Sergeant
I:altee to seam& the steam for the bred and legs of the deceased.
Ile amt or these directions in consequence of information which be
received from Dr. Murphy,. the clergyman.
The Rev. John Moredey is a Catholic eler,mman. In April last
he mid Mr. Wstlrloa that if he sent directions to the police at Cur-
ti to Permit a drain from a spring well there. he would find
the mire a hag containing the head and legs of the deceased.
Wither th see the communication to Mr. Watkins in consequence
of, celtremation which he had with the prisoner.
'Croouricamined.—The mnveration Velet he had with the mi.
;enceinte by no means confidential.
Her the ease dosed for the Crown.
The Carmel fur the prisoner would not cell any witnesses for the
defence.
The Learned Jailor proceeded to ebnrge the Jury. He recapi.
milted ehe evidence at great length, and in the wore of his ober-
erectile observed, that the prisoner bed henelf contested, not indeed
Or Arrive :he murderous blows, but that the was present at the
dreadial /dine, and held the lege of the decreed • so that. Whet
erdieltiori Was to be believed, she was clearly aiding and assinfog
retie Warder.
The Jury. without leaving the box, returned a verdict of Gitilty.
A deep and awful silence now pervaded the Court, sad when
the keened Judge proceeded to pass entente, the wretched Ori-
clear, who until that moment preserved scoontenanee by ro nuars
Beer: ike of those 'Celine which a situation so fall of peril was
I.§_!v to protium, fell into a oerivalaire fit, in which she remained
tees qoardeffble time. Oo het revere, Mr. Annie jebb eau.
erjled tp.adileres the primmer nearly as follows:—" Prisoner, I
%ITO: henry thoreth what I have to say on this dreadful omit.
seer, bemire you are not In a condition to receive any obeavations
te a way that could he useful to yon. You bee? been fouod guilty
se:one of the mturbarbaroue aril mirage murders that the Length
of human [Time eon 'furnish an enema!: of. The temptetion of
a few eitillinge, as it emcee' to us, is all the te.rnotatinn you have
had to commit the dreadful net. That any hoteute being, and
eesticolarly that it female, could, fin a few miserable shillings,
cornentt so barbarous. so cruel an act, laspereks a blackness of heart,
a lebrely temper of mind, which can re,:e accounted for by sup-
pesier that you were, at that moment. tinder the influence of Sloan
iti.ateele The manner in which you afterwards mangled the corpse
of the wretched victim of your cruelty and avarice exceeds in
!".)-1117 any thing I ever read or ever heard of. After. the murder,
yen proceeded, it would appear, deliberately to cut ofethe head and
Cie Moire the miserable old man, who thenght he had found an
urlion under your rnaf ; how y3U Could leave had the heart to do
r o ; ha* you, bearing the shape and fern of a woman, could have
:tope through the bloody scene, is tlif,:itti!: to believe; it would
rally be Winer] belief if it hail cot been so clearly established in
evidence; established by the cor.fessien that fell from your own
l.ps. You must now prepare yeeireeif for another world, for you
toe DO Innere fit to lire in this. Vox will have the piens assistance
of toe bummers of your religion. The Rev. Gentleman win ar.
prized before us in the course of your trial, will, tin doubt. wit-
lay attend you, and be glad to impart ell. the cotssoletion that
piste and religion can 'bestow. - Withdraw all thoughts from this
weed, fir you mast suddenly lease it, and Ex them upon that elod,
before Orme judgment seat yon must tom appear. That situ may
rectivefrom him that mercy which your cold and erne! !:cart re-
us-L-4 to extend towards a follow-creature, in my sincere fled f.eveet
)rarer. The learned Judge then serrneed the pri.o -cc
hanged on Saturday.. the Met of July, and her body to be deliieeted
tea to the surgeons for direction.

We are informed that the harvest in East Lothian will
he tc:neral by the middle or next 'none!).
The Ufa nitrates of 'Middlesex !lave awarded to Mr.
:onrypenny the premium of loot. for the best dcsie.n tar
the New Nouse of Correction, ler 210 female prisoners. at
:"crkenwell.
DARIN!: By AG)..'nv.—lnformation has hen ni-i-
-cn:edat at the different Police-offices, of a tliiri-1; burglery
beet committed on Friday night, at the hotte. cf J. P.
Fel. situate at Mar:lake. The articles stolen cassias principally
of ether plats, of gre7t
.MAD Docs.—Two mad dogs were destroyed yettrrilav
ie. the neighbourhood of St. tiecaues-qt-lds. A letter :ton-.
ford, Devonshire, mentions very strious au, eined by Lem, rs,
wiirse eaitle bet been bitten by mad thigs. 'flie Mr.gis•r-its of
Exeter hare issued orders for securing dees ; act! dliety or !kitty of
thefts animal., found in the streets. have been destroyed.
FATAL ACClDENT.—Thurstiav three hors trent to heave
near Royston, about half a mile abityc the (.11;ain Pier. Ore of
view, who could swim, wet out a considerahl.i distance. and
falsely told his companions, who could rot swim, th.-t he Lid
redttr:d. They imine,llately made a dire to t.ct et himn which
t Aerie., them beyond their depth. when. urfortut nt,ly. wire
cenwaed. One of their bodies was found shortly after the atti.
kappened. two sufferers. w; untie:stand, weie. cliimary-
• -vmps. A faithfol dog belonging to fort. of them tint determinedly
uitahie master's clothes, and betray, staing ruarks of displi
.tire when any person triar.if.st,:d a desire to remove therm—Cute-
.

Meret;rt.
f. A !MI PIG Fllll* IN 1 /IP 110110:' 1!.—AINIIIt otv•
s.:starday morring. a fire bt•oke out hi the !loose of Mr. i;eag::,.
94, Union-street. in the Borough. and fro..) the n.tture
o‘. th.; property therein, burn with peat fury, and coir,luniceted
occovird 1,7 Mr. Itt.nni,oy the yroczt,
7
!•, V4Ol el: a. •a z. skirt tl•:ic to a i•!ap of
r,.!'s. 'Pito lire mrrderi to the 11.-u,e of Mr. Anr.-r.. a tat.lor
s:;3 draper, on ore nod that of 3lr. Tasseng,r. a
-ireteuse, on tile otim and both hones received tLit.it,r.e, :,1.
1.. the prorry was sarttl. The timber-tent o:
..11-.lsnd, the Innl.ler. was at one time On fire, bit. tv tLe
-•at CV7ll'.ons of the firemen. it was contir.ct, to a small
'G.!. the yard. It is pleasing to 57.. y that no sz-noes 11.41:
reeked by any eta,. It is not known hew tl:r lire tingi:a!
'..at it is fea,cd that the hou.:er bed propert!.•
not insured.

The fire was complcieiy pit uni4r by I:air-past to

Vi! Q.: AND Arrr.srr r.t Pl!lON.—(1:1'
7.1.r:,,j,,y kw a ki,c.riet; man, named James Rcrretr, applied
the •hop of Mr. druggist. of this e.e, for an minced'
o he ezid. with which he was serv_il by Mr. K. hot rot until he'
Lad seq prat, •rly qth•stioned the man closely es to the purpose fi r
which it was rid war;.ed him of the di ncliy nature or tie.
poi•on ; 10 1%1,101 I in ".t, Wi`O was cool and c-illeeted in his man..
ncr, replied that he teas qui.; nwnr: mt its t rects. end that it 11'2,
the !savvy's: of el.snniog tiont.tops. The tted was thee. &liver Al
t, him. with n lab, lon t...e outside. drying !hat it st.:l%
•• deadly Tolson.- I:nmett immediately tr.-occetini to the hou•r of
1:1• with whom he some au..rn I respectir%; hi.
wife, :ant dissoli Mg the snbstance ia a lint Ix ,T, dr.ink it
a: the .ante time announcing tl:at he bad peistioct himself. L.
a few minmes the poison hr.s.sin rr tTC:3IC, arid Ilarnets. as
tie has sinre acknowledged, " had calculated that it voulil take r.
week to kill him," repented or his rashaess ; he W.I. thf/CfOrt
persuaded by his dreadfully alarnicil mother_in.law to cc.
company her Lack to Hr. Kin/bees. where, upon powerful anti-
dotes being copiously and promptly administered, his stomach was
boon relleved from its deadly eoatents, and hr is nor in a fair way
of rewereery • though his mouth and thrust Mill continue in a hor-
rible state 'front the corrosive seam of the acid.-.—Glouctstgr
.ThtraaL