The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-23 00:00:00

DESPEBA7E TRAGEDY 1N DUBLIN.

An inquest was held on Thursday on the bodies
of the two children killed by their father on the
previous day in Cumberland-street. The inquest
was held at the Jervis street Hospital, by Dr. White,
city coroner. The father was present in custody.
He looked pale, but was collected, took notes of
the evidence, and questioned some of the witnesses.
The following evidence was given :
Arabella Kelly examined—l live in No. 4, Leeson-
place, in the parish of St. Peter. I know the pri-
soner John Molloy. He is married to my daughter.
He was a servant. He had three children previous
to this occurrence. The two boys were living with
him. The third is a little girl about five years of
age, and lives with the prisoner's mother at Bray.
The prisoner lived at 25, South Cumberland-street.
The family was in distress. The prisoner was 11
weeks out of employment. I saw the body of
William Molloy last night. He was lying dead in
the top room of the house. I saw blood on his
mouth and neck, and on the floor. I have not seen
the child Arthur since its death. (The witness was
des;red to go to where the child was lying, which
she did, and on her return she stated to the coroner
that it was the body of Arthur Molloy, and that it
was the eldest boy.) Examination continued—l
have known John Molloy for the last three years.
I had frequent opportunities of seeing him dur-
ing that time. I never knew him to do an act that
would lead me to believe he was out of his
mind, of my own knowledge. I don't know how
the children came by their death. The prisoner's
wife was also a servant, and used to be in em-
ployment. When they were both in service I kept
the children part of the time. The parents assisted
in supporting the children. They both contributed
fairly to their support. I cannot say whether he
treated the children affectionately or not. I never
knew an angry word or look between the prisoner
and his wife. I never saw the prisoner in liquor,
nor the sign of liquor on him.
Surgeon George Potter examined—l have exa-
mined the body of William Molloy. There was a
superficial wound about an inch and a half in length,
a little below the chin ; a second deep one three
inches and a half in length, passing across the neck,
just below the level of the circoid cartilage, this
wound divided the windpipe completely, and also
cut through the carotid artery and deep jugular
vein on the right side. These vessels are not injured
on the right side, although laid bare. The cause of
death was haemorrhage from those vessels.
Isabella Pye was the next witness—l am the
sister-in-law of the prisoner. My sister is married
to him. Her name is Maryanne Molly. I did not
see the child who is lying dead in Cumberland-
street. I was in Molloy's room yesterday morning
about 10 o'clock. The prisoner, my sister, and the
two boys were present. The prisoner told me to
tell my mother to send down the collars that she
kept. I said she had no collars ; that the right
number was in it. This was alluding to things
that were said to be pawned. I told my sister that
my mother told her to go down to the pawn office,
and that the man would show her how many there
were in it. This was in the hearing of the prisoner.
The prisoner said he did not believe me. He told
me to go out of the room, and if I did not that he
would make me begone. My sister said I should
not leave the room. The prisoner then struck me
with the poker on the forehead. He then ran and
locked the door. I managed to get the door open,
and he-pursued me to get me back, but I shouted
" Murder" and " Police," and that he was going to
murder my sister and her children. I went down
stairs with my head bleeding, and I saw no more
of what occurred in the room. In a minute or two

I saw my sister come down the stairs in gores of
blood. Her blood was pouring down from her head
over her neck and clothes. My sister was taken
away to the doctor to have her head dressed. I re-
mained below stairs. That (pointing to a poker)
was the weapon with which he struck me.
Bridget Dempsey, examined—l live in the next
room to the one which was occupied by the pri-
soner .I knew Mrs. Molloy, but not the prisoner. I
knew her two little children. Mrs.' Molloy's sister
came into my room screeching a little after 10
o'clock. He shut the door when she came out. I
heard Mrs. Molloy screeching. I rapped at the door
and she rushed out, pouring blood, with her hand
around her head. She said, "I am nearly killed."
She begged of me to go back to try and get the in-
fants out. I went and rapped at the door, and the
prisoner opened it wide. I heard a voice inside say,
" Come out, you wretch." The children were cry-
ing on the floor for their mother. I saw one of
them, but not the other. I did not see the man who
was inside except his feet. He had no shoes on. I
did not go into the room. I went down stairs to
Mrs. Molloy. I put a shawl round her and took her
to the doctor's. Mrs. Molloy begged of me to send,
some one to look after her children. I met a ser-
geant of police, and told him what had occurred. I
came to the hall door with the policeman. I did not
see the prisoner. I saw a man taken away from the
house. I then returned to Mrs. Molloy. I never
heard of any altercation between the prisoner and
his wife. I did not go to the room when the prig-
soner spoke because I was afraid. I saw his hands,
and I thought he had a weapon in them, and that
I would endanger my life by going in.
Androw Walsh, examined—l am a constable in
the metropolitan police. Yesterday morning 1 was
on duty in the neighbourhood of Harcourt-place
about half-past ten o'clock. Bridget Dempsey met
me and said that a man was after violently assault-
ing his wife, and that she was over at Dr.
Sweeney's. I went to the doctor's and saw the
woman. Her head was being dressed. The blood
was streaming down the back of her neck. The
woman said stthatshe would charge her husband
with the assault. She then expressed a wish that I
should go and take out the children. I accompanied
Bridget Dempsey to the hall door of the house
No. 25, Cumberland-street. I knocked at the door,
and it was opened. I went upstairs, and on the
second or third landing I heard the crying of a man
over me. I heard the words, "Is there no person
can give me assistance ?" It was the same voice in
a very weakly tone. I proceeded up further, and
when I got in sight of the door of the top front
room 1 saw the prisoner standing at the door ; he
was crying. He had nothing on him but an old rug
round his shoulders, and his shirt and stockings.
He retired into the room. I went in after him.
Opposite to me, when I went in, I saw the prisoner
stoop over a child. He had it partly raised off the
floor. The child was bleeding from the throat. The
floor was very much covered with blood. He then
asked me " for God's sake to get something done for
the child." He clasped his hands together and said,
" I am sorry, I am sorry !" I saw a knife lying be-
side the child. It was stained with blood. I saw
the child was breathing. I went to the door, and
called for help to bring the child to the doctor's. I
saw the child lying on the floor. It was smaller
than the first. It was quite dead. Constable 54 B
was the first that came to my assistance. I told
him to take charge of John Molloy. I went with
the child in my arms downstairs. I met Isabella
l'ye, who took the child from me to Dr. Sweeney's,
in Lincoln-place. Constable Murphy when I went
back handed me the knife which I had seen on the
floor. 1 saw some bread and butter on the table in
the room, and a teapot on the hob. There was not
enough bread for a family of three or four. The pri-
soner asked me to take charge of his papers, I and
Constable Murphy took the prisoner in a clb to
Lad-lane. He refused to come downstairs till he
got something to cover him.
The room was then cleared for the purpose of
allowing the jury to deliberate as to their verdict.
After being closeted together for about a quarter of
an hour th coroner was called in and handed their
verdict at about half-past 6 o'clock. It was as fol-
lows :—" In the case of Arthur Molloy, we find
that the said Arthur Molloy died in Jervis-street
Hospital on Wednesday, the 20th inst., from certain
wounds inflicted on him by his father, John Mol-
loy. In the case of William Molloy, we find that
the said William Molloy died at the house, 25,
Cumberland-street, on Wednesday, the 20th inst.,
from certain wounds inflicted by his father, John
Molloy."
The prisoner was then sent for trial at the next
commission, aucl a coroner's warrant made out for
his committal to the Richmond Bridewell.

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