The Sun.
London, England, 1834-07-29 00:00:00

MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF A FEMALE

Yesterday afternoon an inquisition, which had been adjourned
from Thursday last, was held at the sign of the Black Ilorse,
Kingsland-road, before Mr. Baker, Coroner, touching the
death of an aged woman named Elizabeth Edhouse, who was
found dead in Shepherd and Shepherdess-fields, Hoxton, at
an early period on Sunday morning week last.
It appeared by the evidence, that about two o'clock on the
morning above specified a gentleman, named Gilbert Smith,
residing at Hoxton, was passing along the fields in question,
between the Bricklayers' Arms and the Blockmakers'
Arms public-houses, when he observed the deceased lying
on the foothpath with her attire turned up as high as her
knees, and a man named Humphrey Bishop, living in Old-
street, who has ever since been retained in custody on sus-
picion of having caused the death of the deceased, stand-
ing by her side. On Mr. Smith closely inspecting the deceased
he discovered her to be dead, and on informing Bishop he
exclaimed, " Oh, I'd rather give 201. than she should be
dead." By the assistance of the police she was taken to the
Bricklayers' Arms, that being the nearest public-house, where
she was also declared to be dead, and her body was afterwards
conveyed to the workhouse in the Kingsland-road, where it
underwent a post mortem examination by Mr. Baker and other
medical gentlemen The lower part of her body, back and
front, was covered with mud. There was also a dreadful la-
ceration of the extremities, from which there had evidently
been a recent discharge of. blood. On Bishop being ques-
tioned he prevaricated greatly, and said that the deceased, who
was a widow; was an old ac4uaintance, but he had not seen her
before for upwards of two years.
The Jury, after a short deliberation, returned a verdict
—" That the deceased was found dead in a public thorough-
fare ; but how death was occasioned the Jurors could not
determine."

The CORONER directed that Bishop should be taken be-
fore the Magistrate, at Worship-street Police-office, for his
discharge.

IRISH ASSIZES.

KING'S COUNTY—PuiLirsrowN, JULY 21.

THE KING AT THE PROSECUTION OF THE REV. MR. KENNEDY, 2.

THE REV. MESSRS. CROTTY.

This case excited considerable interest, not only in the im-
mediate neighbourhood where the parties are personally known,
but throughout the whole diocese where the Rev. Messrs.
Crotty, and the Rev. Mr. Kennedy, who are all Roman Ca-
tholic priests, reside. When the case was about to be called
on, the younger Mr. Crotty, who is also a Catholic priest, and
assistant to the elder Mr. Crotty, and who was included in
the indictment, put in an affidavit that he was not ready for
his trial.

Mr. Crotty's counsel said that the elder Crotty was ready
for his trial, and that the other gentleman would enter into the
necessary securities.

This Proposal was agreed to, and a jury- was sworn.
In swearing the jury, there were twelve set aside on the
part of the crown—the traverser had no power to challenge.
The indictment contained several counts; it charged the
traverser with conspiracy, riot, and disturbance of public wor-
ship. He pleaded not guilty.
Mr. MARTLEY addressed the jury. The present unhappy
differences commenced so far back as the latter end of 1826 or
beginning of 1827. At that period Mr. Crotty was convicted
for a similar offence, and was bound to keep the peace for seven
years: He would do him the justice to say that for that period
he most religiously kept the compact he had entered into, but
the moment he was released from that obligation he commenced
an attack upon the chapel of Birr. Mr. Crotty had been cu-
rate at Birr some time previous to the year 1826. He had
committed an assault for which he was to stand his trial at
quarter sessions. In the mean time he was removed to Too-
mavara, and afterwards to Killaloe, and did not appear at
the quarter sessions—his recognizances were estreated and a
green wax fine levied against him. In order to collect the
amount of this fine he came back to the parish of I3irr, and
that as I understand, with the sanction of his bishop. Shortly
after, however; a letter from his superior arrived, calling him
back to his curacy at Killaloe, but he continued in the parish,
in despite of these orders, and exercised his functions as a Ro-
man Catholic minister, and frequently celebrated mass in the
parish chapel, of which Mr. Kennedy had then the care, as
administrator of the parish. Soon after, Mr. Kennedy was
appointed parish priest, and Crotty still continuing to assert
his right to go into the chapel, his disobedience was such that
he• was excommunicated by his bishop according to the forms
of his church. He then took an old malt-house and converted
it into a chapel, where he continued to officiate until the term
of seven years was expired; he never during that period gave
the slightest disturbance to Mr. Kennedy or his flock. On the
13th of last April Mr. Crotty commenced his attack; on that
morning he appeared in the chapel, surrounded by his fol-
lowers, and were it not for the interference of the magistrates,
the peace would have been broken and the most fatal conse-
quences might have resulted from a conflict between the two
parties, and such would undoubtedly have been the case were
it not for the timely interference of the authorities.

Mr. Crotty's counsel here read a proposal to this effect,—
That as a great number of the inhabitants of the parish of Birr
had subscribed to the building of the new chapel, and that they
wished to elect or choose their own minister, and as they had
already chosen Mr, Crotty, they would be satisfied if he were
allowed to celebrate mass in the new chapel, at stated hours
that would not interfere with Mr. Kennedy, and thus live in
amity and Christian peace.
The Rev. Patrick- Kennedy, P. P. of Birr, examined by Mr.
CLARKE, K. C.—flas been a parish priest for twenty years.
Has been upwards of seven years parish priest of Birr. Has
been in the quiet possession of the parish chapel for the last
seven years, until the 13th of April last, when Crotty com-
menced a fresh attack. In the year 1827, Mr. Crotty made
an attempt to keep possession of the chapel, but was put out of
it by Lord Posse.

11y the COURT—When Crotty was put out by Lord Rosse
his Lordship put witness again in possession.
The Rev. Patrick O'Mealy, Roman Catholic curate of Birr,
examined.—Crotty's followers are of the very lowest class in
society. The women who are his adherents are generally bad
characters, hut Mr. Crotty thinks there is not a virtuous wo-
man in the world. Has heard that he swore on the mass book
that there was not a virtuous woman from the rising of the sun
to the P•oing down thereof.
The Hon. Justice BURTON then briefly explained the law
of the case. He called their attention to the two counts ap-
plicable to the case, namely the fourth and seventh, which
charged the traverser with riot, and an obstruction of public
worship. On those heads the evidence was conclusive, and if
the jury was of his opinion they should find him guilty on those
two counts.
The Jury retired, and in a few minutes returned with a ver-
dict of Guilty.
On the following morning Mr. Crotty appeared in Court,
and his. Lordship, in very feeling language, sentenced him to
two months' imprisonment in the gaol of Tullamore, and di-
rected that he should enter into proper security to keep the
peace.
Mr. Crotty acknowledged his error, and promised that he
would never again interfere with Mr. Kennedy or the new
chapel of Birr. Peace has been thus restored once more to
the people of that parish and its vicinity.

REVERSE OR FORTUNE.—George Legh, the
prescpt..okeimmit of Stoneleigh Abbey,. in Warwickshire,
whichrwasafeNy year 4 since the subject of investigation before
the How Peers, applied to the Bolton. Magistrates on
malciay fast for relief. The overseer objected, on the ground
that the applicant's wife possessed some cottages, which
yielded a revenue of 14/. 15s. per annum. Mr. Kearsley the
Magistrate, said he should make no order, the applicant must
live out of his property I—Liverpool Chronicle.