The Sun.
London, England, 1834-03-28 00:00:00

IRELAND.

CORK ASSIZES.-MARCH 20.
CHARGE OF MURDER.-SINGULARLY INTERESTING

CASE.

William Wright, a respectable-looking man, was
indicted for the murder of Daniel Crane, by shoot-
ing him with a loaded pistol in the month of January,
of Cooldorihy, near Macroom.
Denis Murphy sworn and examined by Mr. BEN-
NETT, K.C.—I was at deceased's house between
eight and nine o'clock in the morning, when the pri-
soner, who was Bridewell keeper at Macroom, came
to the house to take cows. Was within twenty
spades of them when I heard the deceased say that
" the money was paid, and to come up to the parish
priest's house and he'd satisfy him," on which
prisoner presented a pistol and shot him. The deceased
went towards the priest's (Father Burke's) house, and
held his hands on the wound in his side where the
ball entered. The deceased was • anointed by the
priest, and he died at two o'clock that night. Did
not hear prisoner say that he had an order of law.
He went away, and gave himself up to the police.
Timothy Crane examined by the Hon. Mr.
PLUNKET—The deceased was my father. Was from
five to six spades from them when he was shot. The
prisoner was on horseback, and had two pistols. He
was driving two cows, and his father desired him to
go up to the priest's house, and he would satisfy him
that the debt was discharged. No sooner did he
say the words when the prisoner fired. My father
.
had nothing his hand. He rushed in on the pri-
soner and seized him, took the pistol from him, on
which prisoner ran out of the field. There was an
elder and younger brother in the field with them.

The elder (Cornelius) got a stick and struck the
Prisoner, who. was running away.
Cornelius Crane corroborated the testimony of the
last witness.

Cross-examined by Mr. FREEMAN—I am twenty-
four years of age. Was not at the Inquest. I had
no conversation with Father Burke. Did not hear
him say to Mr. Ashe, " If you produce Cornelius
Crane you will be no friend of the family." Mr.
Ashe is our landlord. I heard the prisoner was
distraining for tithes. Heard he bought a horse for
a small sum at a tithe sale. I saw Father Burke
to-day, and asked when this trial would come on.
I came last Thursday to town, and returned on
Friday. I took Crown summonses home for Mr.
Ashe, Mr. Boyle, and Dr. Magrath. Mr. Ashe,
my master, desired me. I gave the money out of
my own pocket to the lawyers. I feed an attorney,
and gave him 17s. 6d. 'Twas my mother paid it.
Never heard where she got it. We have fifty acres,
for which we pay 361. We are all poor enough. I
didn't give 17s. 6d. I believe it was my uncle gave
it. He got it from my mother. My father was
tried for attacking Mr. Barry's hou'se. I could not
say whether he was there or not. The cows were
taken by the prisoner. Saw the shot fired. My
father was quiet. He was stating the case to
prisoner, who was on horseback. •
Rev. Mr. Burke examined by the Hon. Mr.
PLUNKET—I am curate of the parish of Temple-
michael for three years and a half. I knew the
deceased. He came to my house, and appeared to
be wounded in the side.
Cross-examined by Mr. JACKSON—I knew the
deceased. I did not know him to be the most
riotous man in the county. I did not hear that he
Thpaerrte
owf atshea
countrystrong againstfeein
g
keeper at Macroom. Heard that he was
pawneardssopnprsealetinidgeivageleaedilnyinstoht.iatht es. The prisoner was bride-
wellattacked for being concerned in tithes. I was re-
quested by friends to the deceased to retain counsel,
but finding it would make them obnoxious to certain
individuals I retained them on my own account. It
was occasioned by a letter written to a third party,
stating that if a certain professional man was en-
gaged the writer would wash his hands out of the
business.

Mr. JAcxsoN--Who was the writer of that
letter ? Witness—l would rather be excused from
giving the name.
Mr. JACKSON-I will take no excuse, Sir. I must
have the name from you. Witness—Mr. Ashe,
jun., of Ashgrove, was the writer ; he is landlord to
the Cranes.

Mr. JACKSON—Did you not, Sir, procure sub-
scriptions through your parish to carry on this pro-
secution ? Witness—Not in my parish.
Mr. JACKSON—Did you not mention this busi-
ness in the chapel, and solicit subscriptions to carry
it on ? Witness—l did not mention it in chapel,
but I went among some friends, and made up the
money to defray the expenses.
Mr. JACKSON—Upon your oath you had not a
conversation on this matter with any one of the fa-
mily of the deceased, and if so, with whom ? Wit-
ness—l do not recollect.

Mr. JACKSON—I call upon you, Sir, to recollect,
and say whether you had not a conversation with
some of the sons of the deceased. Witness (after
some hesitation)--I had.
Mr. JAcKsoN—When had you that conversation ?
Witness—l think it was on Friday last.
Mr. JACKSON—And is it possible you don't re-
collect a conversation that took place so recently as
Friday ? Come, state with whom you had the con-
versation, and the nature of it. Witness (again
hesitating)--I had a conversation with his son
Cornelius.

Mr. JACKSON—Was it a private conversation, or
in confession ? Witness—lt was a private conver-

sation.

Mr. JACKSON—Come then, Sir, let us have it at
once ? Witness—l throw myself on the protection
of the Court as a clergyman.
Mr. JACKSON—No protection shall be afforded
you, Sir, in this instance. Had you or had you not
a conversation with the deceased's son, Cornelius ?
Witness—The deceased's son told me that he
(Cornelius) had his hand on the prisoner's hand
before the shot was fired !—(Great sensation in the
Court.)
Mr. JACKSON (with great energy)—'Pon your
solemn oath, Sir, did he or did he not tell you that
the deceased himself had his hand on the prisoner
before the shot was fired? Witness—He did.—(A
general exclamation throughout the court followed
this admission.)
Mr. JACKSON—I have done with you, Sir ; you
may go down.
When the sensation which this discovery excited
had ceased the counsel for the crown addressed the
court, and stated that had they been aware of the
testimony then given they would not have proceeded
on the capital charge ; but under present circum-
stances they felt bound to give evidence to prove
manslaughter.
Samuel Vignolles, Esq.—l am a police magis-
trate. I recollect the inquest held on deceased,
and attended it. The Rev. Mr. Burke was there.
The non-appearance of the younger son was caused
by Mr. Burke, who sent him away ; Mr. Burke at-
tended there throughout ; one son remained.
Mrs. Sarah Letitia Hayes sworn—There was
money due by deceased to my late husband. It never
was paid or settled for in any way. I employed the
prisoner to execute decrees.
narrow
hofateureTrrreothe de
addressedowna
and
dwellingd
du escapecf et hncueer
jury)
exhibited
juryhaving t
bwetteherieden c
man
i mtnhho alo beforeescdt
osedmmao mnt,
hs
d them
eloquentl e
onwogC indignant n }lna:
eeil
alErinmerF
murder,
rhtde eoJUSTICEtriaI,
reynmr(satt
bnhh aydeet
takings hp e
oanweal
ny
dtehde lbi fye
soafyai
nng innocent
omftaenn, hiseg
rlitotredd-
notThhaevijnugryt,hweitphoowuetraofmmomakeinntg,sthheeswi change
places places with the accused.
a verdict of Not Guilty, which gave great satisfaction.
The court rose at seven o'clock.