Star.
London, England, 1824-08-19 00:00:00

TRALEE ASSIZES, AIIGUST 13.

THE ROCK SYSTEM.
T. Cotter was indicted for the murder of Mr. Brere-
ton, on the 24th of January, 1822. Deceased was prin-
cipal clerk in the mail-coach establishment at Tralee ;
the prisoner, it was alleged, was one of the leaders of
a body of insurgents, who assembled on the high road,
intercepted the deceased, who was conveying the mail
to the city of Cork, and put him to death ; for this
offence five persons had already undergone the sen-
tence of the law; prisoner was the sixth who was put
on his trial. The case excited a degree of public
interest. The prosecution was oritrerre:dt by Government.
The first witness called was Bryan M,Guire; witness
recollected the 24th of January, 1822; he and the de-
ceased set off from Tralee at half-past five that morn-
ing ; the deceased went with the mail-bags, because the
mail of the preceding day had not arrived ; they arrived
at Killarney without interruption ; from Killarney they
proceeded for Mill-street; between Killarney and Shi-
nock-cross they met an assembly of persons who were
armed with scythes and pitchforks, one hada gun; they
met no obstruction then ; at the Chapel they met more than
50 persons armed in the same manner; here they were
desired to halt; witness halted, he was dragged off his
horse, and marched as a prisoner to Shinock-cross;
when Brereton saw that witness was seized, he spurred
on his horse, several blows were made at him, and
stones thrown at him ; witness saw deceased's horse re-
ceive a blow of a scythe, which had nearly cut off his
hind quarter; he saw the horse afterwards dead on
the road ; when witness came to the Cross be was
marched to a field, where he saw the deceased;
there were many persons there armed like the others;
the road was full of persons; the deceased and witness
were then marched into an old road ; witness asked to
see the Captain of the party in order to get liberty to
wash the deceased, as he was covered with blood ; they
went into a cabin on the side of the road, but were soon
after marched out ; Brereton and witness were then
separated ; witness was put on his knees to be shot;
one man presented a gun at him, and said, that he
should be shot, lest he should hang the whole country;
a man named Collins interfered, and saved him ; wit-
ness was put on his oath not to disclose the names of
any of the party ; it was added, that if he did they
would put him and his family to death, whatever
part of the kingdom they should go to. The prisoner
at the bar, who!» he identifies, was one of the party ;
witness saw the prisoner at the moment he Was marched
from the field out on the road; he was on horseback;
he had a piece of paper in his hand; witness did not
see him do or hear him say anything ; witness was close
to him for a quarter of an hour ; witness was then put
into a house ; after having been put there, he heard a
shot fired.; witness saw the dead body of Brereton on.
the Monday following.
Daniel Sullivan, an informer, examined.—Knows the
prisoner; remembers the day in question; saw the de.
ceased that day at Knockagopple; saw him after at Shi-
nock-cross ; the deceased was killed there; the deceased
was cut with a scythe before he was shot; witness saw
him shot; witness heard the prisoner, who was Captain
that day, give directions to some of the persons why
have been executed to shoot the deceased, or that he
would shoot them ; in about ten minutes after the order
was given, the deceased was shot ; he fell ; after he fell
the prisoner dismounted and fired at him.
Cross-examined—He gave evidence because he was
taken up himself; witness would himself have fired the
shot if he were bid , he had no towards the de-
ceased, yet if.he had been ordered he would have blown
out his brains ; after the murder of Brereton he had
some apprehension of being hanged himself; he swore
informations about two years ago ; ha swore against
seven persons, five of them have been executed ; begot
the coat he had on from Government ; he does not cor-
respond with Government—( A laugh.) He got money
to buy it; the deceased was put on his knees, and de-
Sired to say some prayers. Michael Foley, who was
executed, was the person who cut off Brereton's arm.
Patrick Fl) nn, a soldier in the 29th Regiment, found
the body of the deceased at Shinock-cross—the body
was on its left side, one of the aims was cut off, the body
was covered with wounds from the feet to the head.

The case having closed, the Learned Judge charged
the Jury, who returned a verdict of Guilty.
The Learned JUDGE new proceeded to pass the awful
sentence of the law. He told the prisoner that a Jury
of his country had found him guilty; he had acted as
the leader of a band of ruffians who committed one of
the most cruel and cowardly murders that had been
ever committed even in that unfortunate country. For
the proceedings of that day, five persons had already
suffered; the name of the prisoner would be shortly
added to the number. He concluded, by pronouncing
the sentence of the law, that the prisoner be hanged on
Monday, the 16th a August, and his body delivered
up to the surgeons.