Star.
London, England, 1830-07-31 00:00:00

SERIOUS OUTRAGE AT MAGHERAFELT.

A most serious occurrence took place on Thursday Last at the
ilaghrafelt Sessions, which, from its alarming nature, will, very
probably, be followed by strong measures on tbe part of Govern.
nient. It will be recollected that, on the 12th of July, as a body of
Orangemen were on their way from 13ellaghy to July,
they
were attacked, at a place called Culladutf. by a party of Roman
Catholics. A great many shots were fired by both partici, but
without any loss of life on the Orange side, though it was believed
that several of their opponents had been killed. The house of a
man named Farrell was burned, In consequence of his not having
allowed it to be occupied by a party of Kamm Catholics, who bad
fired out of the windows on the Orangemen, and much mis-
chief was likely to ensue, when a number of Magistrates interfered,
and seized twelve or thirteen of the Orange party, wham they
conveyed to Csetledawson, and secured the arms of a still greater
number. There wire at this time amongst the Orangemen a peat
number of guns; and .everal individuals had provided themselves
with ball-cartridges. The cases of those who had been taken pri-
soners stood over till Thursday last, whet the Magistrates of the
district were to meet in Petit Sessions, at Magherafelt; and here
the most disagreeable part of the NM was exhibited. The
offence with which the prisoners stood charged was not ball-
able, and the Magistrates were about to transmit them to Derry
gaol, till the Assizes, when four lodges of Orangemen, who
had been attending a funeral, entered the Court, upbraided
the Magistrates with partiality in not having taken the guns
from the Roman Catholic as well as from them, and, seizing
on the prisoners by force, they set them at liberty. They nest
demandedthe arms which had been taken. The Magisuates
endeavoured to pacify them, and to evade this demand by
promising that they should have the arms next day, but in vain.
About 27 guns were accordingly surrendered to them ; after which
the party retired. Several of the prisoners who had been taken ftom
the dock returned as soon as they could extricate themselves,and ex-
pressed their determination to abide the law; when they were per-
mitted by the magistrates to retire to their homes. The Roman
Catholics who were in Court at the time of the outrage,:were so
terrified that they fled in great confusion to places of concealment,
and Mr. Shiel of Castledswson, a Roman Catholic, and a Magis-
trate, was so alarmed for his own safety that he had to procure an
escort before he could venture out of town. No individual injury
was, however, done.

DREADFUL MURDER at GRIMSTHORP near BOURN.

A coroner's inquest was held on Tuesday last, by Samuel Ed.
wards, gentleman, on view of the body of Thwas Sowards, appa-
rently fifty years of age, and, after several hours' investigation,
Michael Lundy, an Irishman, was chsuged with the murder, and
committed for trial to Lincoln Castle at the next assists.
It appeared from the evidence on the inquest, that the men on
Monday applied to Mr. Wilson fur work, and that he employed
them, and offered than a barn to sleep in at night, which the
men accepted. fie proposed to lock them up, but the prisoner
declined it, allegiog that he was unwell, and did not wish to be
confined. Mr. Wilson left the two men at eight o'clock on
Monday night, at which time the deceased had got into the
barn to lie down, and the prisoner was sitting near the barn.
There was a lock and key to the barn-door, which could be fastened
in the inside. This was pointed out to the prisoner. About half-
past nine the prisoner went to Mr. Wilson's house apparently much
agitated, and crying out " Murder." He told Mr. Wilson that he
had left his comrade asleep in the barn ; that an Englishman (de-
scribing his figure, dress, &e.) bad gone into it, and wished to sleep
there ; that the prisoner at first consented, but afterwards he did not
like it, and rushed towards the barn door as if to shut it; but instead
thereof, ran out of the place, suspecting that the Englishman meant
to murder them, and that on prisoner's coming from the barn-door
to Wilson's, he was pelted with stones on the head, but could not
see the person who pelted him. Mrs. Wilson told the prisoner that
he had better go back to the barn, as he was only frightened, but
he said he durst not go alone for fear of being murdered. Mr. and
Mrs. Wilson, and others, then accompanied him. They found
the door locked, but the key could not be found. The door
was forced open, and a most horrible spectacle presented itself.
The corpse of poor Thomas Seward, lay stretched at full length on
the back in a corner of the barn, upon some clothe*' ins straw bed.
A large quantity of blood was upon the head and face. Marks of
blood were upon the wall. A carpenter's axe was in a dap wound,
extending ftom the mouth to the right ear. The jawbone was
much shattered, and another wound, as well as an extensive fracture
of the skull, appeared on the right side of the head. The axe was
proved to have been in the barn at seven o'clock on Monday night.
It was much stained with blood, and there were marks of blood on
the prisoner's breeches. There were also several other corroborat.
ing circumstances to satisfy the jury that Lundy was the murderer.
The prisoner, on being charged, with the crime, denied that he bad
killed Sewards, and repeated what he had told Mrs. Wilson as to
• the Englishman's going into the barn and the prisoner's being
pelted. It appears that Lundy is married to Seward's daughter, but
what induced him to commit the murder is at present enveloped in
mystery, as they appeared to be friendly.
Lundy stated, that half his father-in-law's property was given to
him on his marriage.—Lineolit Mercury.