The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-10 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, TUESDAY MORNING.
TUE MURDER IN THE QUEEN'S COUNTY.
The inquest on the body of Mr. Richard Ely
was held yesterday before Mr. Owen, one of the
coroners for the Queen's County. Several magis-
trates were present. Two witnesses only were exa-
mined,—one of them his brother, and the other the
medical attendant, who proved that the gun-shot
wound was the cause of death. Verdict—" Wilful
murder against persons unknown." The magis-
trates are now holding a private inquiry. The
evidence against the murderer, who is known, is
becoming more complete. He has absconded, and
an active search is being, made after him. The fol-
lowing additional particulars are supplied by the
correspondent of Saunders's News Letter :

" ROSCREA, Monday Evening: The murder of
this estimable gentleman continues to occasion the
greatest regret and consternation throughout the
district. On this morning the inquest was held
before Mr. J. H. Owen, the coroner for Queen's
County. The following magistrates were also pre.
sent :—Mr. H. White, justice of the peace ; Messrs.
B. Thacker and J. Lyster, and Capt. Whelan, resi-
dent magistrate, Maryborough. Sub-Inspector
Mullen and a large party of police from Borris-in-
Ossory and the surrounding stations were in at-
tendonce. A respectable jury was empanelled, of
which Mr. G. Steele was foreman. Only two wit-
nesses were examined, who proved the infliction of
the wound and that death was its consequence.
These proceedings were merely pro forma, and the
jury returned a verdict of Wilful murder against
a person or persons unknown.' The deceased gen-
tleman was unmarried, and about 62 years of age.
He resided in a picturesque cottage, which was
Close beside Ballaglunore-castle, the residence of his
brother, Mr.' R. Ely. Those houses were not more
than 200 yards apart, and a sister was also an in-
mate of the castle. The deceased was in the habit
of daily takine, his meals at their mansion, and re-
turning punctually° to sleep at his own house. On
Friday, about 20 minutes past eight o'clock,
after dinner, and passing the evening with his
brother and sister, to whom he was much attached,
he proceeded homewards by a passage through the
farmyard, and while passing through a stile
into a small shrubbery leading to his house he was
fired at by an assassin, who lay there in ambush.
The contents took effect in his left arm, a little be-
low the shoulder. On being wounded he returned
to his brother's house, and there became faint from
loss of blood. Messengers were despatched for me-
dical assistance, and Dr. Powell, of Roscrea, was
soon in attendance, and took the precautions he
thought needful. Next day amputation was deemed
necessary, since it was discovered that the bone was
broken, destroying the arteries, vessels, and nerves,
but he sank in two hours after the operation from
the loss of blood and the shock to his nervous sys-
tem. He underwent the operation with great forti-
tude. He also frequently and with minuteness de-
scribed the particulars of the attack on him, and
stated that he distinctly saw the person who fired
at him, and that the assassin must have been within
less than two yards of him; and he also stated that
he distinctly saw the flash of the pan. At the con-
clusion of the inquest the magistrates held an in-
quiry, the particulars of which have not transpired,
and if made known at present might frustrate the
ends of justice ; but4t may be added that the autho-
. cities have taken .the, most active measures for the
detection and apprehension of the assassin. The
remains of Dr. Ely were in the course of the day
removed to Kyle, the family burial place, attended
by a large concourse of the gentry of the Queen's
County, King's County, and County Tipperary."
The correspondent of the Express notices some
further matters of interest connected with this ter
rible tragedy:—
. ", Borris-in-Ossory, Monday Night.
"It is many years since the annals of the Queen's
County have been stained by such a cold-blooded
assassination as that of Mr. Richard Ely—a murder
of the foulest character, of a man beloved by all

classes. A kind friend, a generous neighbou-r, a
warm-hearted good fellow, in the fullest acceptation
of the term, has fallen under the shadow of that cas-
tle with which the name of Ely has been intimately
connected for centuries—within a few paces of
where he had been born and had lived during his
entire life. The Borris-in-Ossory police, under Mr.
Mullen, were soon on the spot, and discovered in a
small group of trees, within seven yards of where
Mr.. Ely fell, a hat, which it has been ascertained
belongs to a man named James Delaney, who re-
sides with his father on part of Sir C. Coote's, estate,
a short distance from Ballagmore. Search was made
for Delany, but he has not been at his residence
since, and the police are actively in pursuit. A de-
scription of him been forwarded to the different
police stations. It has transpired that about a fort-
night since, when Delany's father attended at the
office of Sir C. Coote's agent for the purpose of pay-
ing rent, the agent complained of Delany's keeping

greyhounds and of his son James being -a
poacher.
Delany denied that he had any dogs, and offered to
take his oath to that effect • and thereupon Mr. R.
Ely, who was present, stated he was surprised that
Delany could make such a statement in his hearing,
or words to that effect. The agent thereupon tore
a receipt which he had prepared for Delany, and
said he would require the full arrear to be paid if
Delany did not get rid of the dogs. This is the
only cause of offence that poor Mr. Ely is supposed
to have given. He was a keen sportsman, but a
more generous one never existed ; in fact, the game
on his lands were for the use of his friends, and
those not only of his own class in life, but the
farmers and labourers of the district were always
welcome, and usually joined his coursing parties.
He was never known to prosecute in any court of
law in his life. Delany, the person suspected, has
not borne a good character. About four years ago
he was tried at the assizes of Nenagh for the mur-
der .of a man named Kishem, by stabbing him, was
found guilty of manslaughter, and suffered two
years imprisonment. An inquest was held this day
before Mr. J. H. Owen, assisted by Capt. Whelan,
resident magistrate. Messrs. R. Palmer, H. White,
R. White, and B. Thacker, justices of the peace,
were also present. An intelligent jury were sworn,
of whom Mr. G. Steele 'was foreman. Mr. R. Ely,
brother of the deceased, and Dr. Powell, of Roscrea,
were examined as to the causes of death., and an
open verdict was found. It is worthy of observa-
tion that one of the jurors remarked that Mr. Ely
was in the habit of carrying a gun, and might have
shot hiniself. The coroner did not appear to think
that such was at all a probable matter. The funeral
took place soon after, and was attended by all the
gentry of the surrounding districts, and a good
many of the peasantry ; but the attendance of that
class was not so large as might be expected, consi-
dering what a favourite Mr. Ely was. The rector
of the parish, Mr. W. Roe, offered some most suit-
able observaiions over Mr. Ely's grave, which were
attentively listened to. The sad occurrence has
created a most painful sensation, nay, panic, through
the country, the universal expression being, When,
a man who had the good word of every one is shot
down no one's life is safe.' The district has not
been altogether peaceable lately, two gentlemen in
the neighbourhood having received threatening
notices. It was sought some time since to place
the barony of Clemernagh, in which Ballaghmor3
is situated, under the operation of the Peace Pre-
servation Act, but the matter (partly for political
reasons) was opposed, and the application was not
granted. It was also sought to have a police sta-
tion in a house within 20 yards of where the mur-
der took place, and which had formerly been used
as police barracks ; this was also opposed, and among
the opponents was Mr. Ely. A meeting- of magis-
trates was held after the funeral at Borris-in-Ossory
—the details did not transpire, but it is the anxious
desire of the well-disposed classes that a large force
of police should be placed in the locality, under
the immediate direction of a special
.resident ma_
Ostrate, as it eau hardly be supposed that the 'peal
justices of the peace
not
te
can devote their time to a case
which, though
strictly speaking of an agrarian
character, yet -will reuire to be carefully handled,
the party charged beingte closely connected by rela-
tionship with 6half
lived,
in the populous
district in which he
is stajoa.
-dent magistrate.. The present resi-
twentned at Maryborough,
which is upwards
miles distant. It
is probable thata county meetingao of magistrates will
assemble in a few days
Coote, who held. the ,deceaaseat.ha.t Sir Chas.
the very
highest esteem as one of his extennsiv tenants,
will take an active part in it, and a linaroegreale•erw.ard
will be subscribed. The scene of the
short distance from the high road from Limerick toa
Dublin, and about three miles distant from thetown
of Borris-in-Ossory. The property has been in the
hands of the Ely family without interruption since
Cromwell rested there."
THE BATTLE OF THE BANKS.
The great Sadleir swindles are again brought
before the public, and a fierce battle between the
Tipperary and London and County Banksis
caotuprrtes:
sent raging in one of. the Dublin law
s;
Jotuwr)ezane/,
" 'Whoever loses," remarks the Free/
8an7;51 k and the
e
be
" lawyers will gain,"in the present t
the official manager of the Tipperary
directors of the London concern, over whose inte-
rests John Sadleir presided with such matchless in-
tegrity.
" It is not our duty (says the Freeman) to decide
between the contending claims but had we the
power, jus dicere, we know how the judgment
would go. If the official assignee obtains a decision
in his favour there will be something for the cre-
ditors; but if the liondon and County Bank should
convince the Court that the directors were wholly
ignorant of the immense and various transactions in
whicha John .Sadleir was engaged, and for which

Mr. Deasy could find no parallel—save in the
speculations of the Credit Mobilier—then the cre-
ditors must be content with the fraction they have
already received, and ' bless' the memory of the
swindler."