Star.
London, England, 1828-01-03 00:00:00

DUBLIN, Dtc. $l.

Titt Rev. Ma. Maamits.—lt is intended, on the part
of the prosecutor in the action brought against Mr.
Maguire, to move for a new trial, during next term, on
two distinctgrounds, namely, the discovery of new evi-
dence, and the alleged fact that one i,f the witnes.es for
the defendant personated an individual of the same name.
If the latter fact can be substantiated, no doubt the
new trial will be granted. The same Rev. Gentleman
has publicly declared, with reference to the offer which
it was said some time ago had been made to him frOm
the Archbishop of Tuam of 1,0001. and a living of
8001. per annum, if he conformed to the Protestant
religion, that it came through a Protestant Gentleman
of great respectability, who told him he was commis-
sioned to make it by a Protestant Clergyman of the
Archdiocess of Tuam, the latter of whom, according to
the Gentleman's story, as related by the Rev. Mr. Ma-
guire, showed a letter containing the offer, which he de-
clared came front the Archbishop. Thus the new ver-,
sion of the story runs; the former was, that th,c, Cler-
gyman showed the letter from the Archbishop to Mt.
Maguire himself. 17. •
Dec. 90.—A quarrel of a very serious neat* has
broken out here between the 2d Dragoon Guards and
the sth Regiment of Infantry, which has for these few
last days kept a very populous part of this city in a state
of the most extraordinary commotion and alarm. The
dispute originated thus :—Tuesday night Joseph Fin-
nerty, a soldier of the Guard?, attempted to get uut
of the Royal Barracks, in Barrack-street, after hours,
and was remonstrated with by. a sentinel of the sth
Foot, then on guard at the barrack gate. Finnerty
was intoxicated, and endeavoured to get out by force :
to prevent this, the sentinel placed his firelock in front
towards the drunken man, telling him he should not
stir. The latter, however, persisted; and either not
aware that the bayonet was on the firelock, or careless,
from intoxication, of the event, rushed forward,.when
the bayonet penetrated his heart, and be fell hirandy
dead. An inquest was held, and a verdict a accidental
death was returned. Not so easily were the coming.'
'lions of the deceased to be satisfied; and accordingly,
on Wednesday and Thursday, whenever they met any
of the sth in the streets, away front barracks, they at-
tacked and beat them. On Thursdey a large party of
either regiment met on the quay; near the barracks,
and a general engagement between them took place,
they drawing their swords and bayonets. In the skir-
-1 wish which ensued, and which lasted upwards of half an
hour, to the danger and terror of the *hole street and
passengers, several severe wounds were inflicted, and it
was with great difficulty a large,military party fromthe
adjacent barracks could put an end to this amity com-
bat. Mote than twenty individuals have -Meal Sent to
the hospital wounded, but, with the exception of three
or four, not dangerously. Throughout the entire of
Friday, no soldiers of either of these regiments were
allowed out of barracks, as the most terrible conse-
quences were anticipated, should they again meet in
conflict. The Commander of the forces has, however,
taken the wisest precaution to prevent any recurrence,
by removing the sth Foot out of this garrison. They
marched yesterday for the south of Ireland.

STATE OF TIPPERARY.
Sunday night the 30th, at the early hour of between
nine and tea, the house of a tolerably comfortable
farmer, named John Tierney, residing at Lisrnacrory,
in the parish of Ballingany, in the county of Tipperary,
-was attacked by a large party of men, some of whom
were armed. They knocked at the door, saying " they
came to search forConnaught men." They were answered'
that the objects they sought were not there, accompanied
with a refusal-to admit them. The fellows immediately
smashed in the door, and seized Jane Tierney,- the
daughter of the occupant of the house, and dragged
her forcibly away, declaring their intention to compel,
her to marry one of their party, named Leahy Let .the
same time threatening, if her father had recourse-to the
law to recover her or punish them, they would burn the
house about his bead. Tierney, as soon as they went
off, ran to the house of a neighbouring clergymv and
magistrate, the Rev. Mr. Conolly, to whom he COMM.
nicated the outrage. The Rev. Gentleman's son and son-
in law (Capt. Doolan, a chief constable of police, then
on a visit) immediately pursued the aggressors on foot,
whom they were enabled with considerable diffical,:y to
trace through the mountains of Lower Ortnonsk After
proceeding thus, about twenty miles, theyforwisately
apprehended Leahy, concealed under a bed.:Ameehy
was brought before Mr. Conolly, who took thir-deposi-
tions of the girl and her father, and committed */ pri-
soner fully to take his trial at the next Clonmel Assizes.
There are at present confined in that gaol upwards of
150 persons for trial, more than half of whom are for
capital offences. The young girl above alluded to was
taken away from her father's house neatly naked, and
suffered much during the night from the frost and cold,
as well as the rapidity of her forced journey.

The following passages occur in a leading French
Journal, both published within a week-of each other :

"We have said it, and repeat it-4hs battle of Nitrathiiiiitiketed
Lie affair of the East."—December le.
"We have said it, and repeat it--Me hotly INtwarirs taitipticates
Me stairs of the East in Me stow serious manner II"
Yesterday a Court of Direttors was held at the East
India House, when the following Captains were sworn into the com-
mand of their respective ships, viz.—Captain Jamas Wautaa,
Macqueen ; and Captain Ttioatas 13Lasz, William Fairlie, con-
signed to Madras and China.

Extract of a letter received from St. Petersburgh,
dated the 7th of December last By an order of the
Minister of Finance, the Department of Foreign Com-
merce has given notice, that all imported cloths and
kerseymeres of a dark colour, will be liable to confisca-
tion, should they exhibit the slightest tinge (or shade)
of green: "
While Mr. Fawcett was performing the character of
Antonio in the Marriage of Figaro, on Tuesday night,
a villain was also anxiously engaged playing, his part.
As is customary on dressing for Antonio, Mr. Fawcett
deposited his ordinary apparel on a chair in the dress-
ing room, appropriated to his use, and placed his valu-
able gold watch on the table, without of course appre.
bending any such result as that which actually happen.
ed. After the play had concluded, Mr. Fawcett retired
to his room, but judge his surprise, on finding that both
his watch and clothes had disappeared. An alarm, of
course, was instantly given, and the police engaged at
the theatre used every possible exertion to discover the
robber, but ineffectually, as no clue whattver had been
left. It is suspectedi however, that some of the men
employed about the pantomime was concerned in the
business, as none others had access to the theatre.
Saturday evening last four men were seen in one of
the sweets of Maidstone very much intoxicated, and
Novo( them was so far gone, that it was at last- found
necessary to convey him home in a wheelbarrow. A
young man, who witnessed the operation of loading the
barrow, was verrandignant, and called the votary of
Bacchus a beast. oung man," said a woman
who was wisptho •• patsy, " don't say so ;be s
not to blame ; he gonadal help it, for the liquor was
given to kin...

• -
-•;i.11.-;. 'DREADFUL MURDER.

On Tuesday night, as Mt. Halls, the Sitting Magis-
trate of Bow-street, was about to leave the office, after
Ithe termination of the business of the evening, a mes-
senger arrived, almost breathless, with a communication
from Mr. Justice Holroyd, informing the Magistrate
that a murder had been committed in the neighbour-
hood where he resided, at the house of a Gentleman
named Lett, No. 11, Montague-place, Russell-square,
under extraordinary and mysterious circumstances. The
Learned Judge suggested the propriety of an imme-
diate inquiry into the affair, and that active officers
should be sent to the house to use their utmost diligence
in discovering the murderer. Mr. Halls, with that
promptitude which ever distinguishes him, not only
dispatched two officers, Salmon and Gardiner, but he
employsd Furman, the active constable of St. Giles's,
and without delay proceeded himself, with Mr. Stafford,
the chief clerk, to the scene of the horrid crime; the
particulars of which we shall proceed, in detail, to lay
before our readers. The victim of this almost unheard
of act of inhuman barbarity was named Mary Jeff, and
the poor creature was of the venerable age of 75 years.
Her hair was blanched by time, and she was in a state
lof decrepitude. This poor old creature had been for 20
years the servant of Mr. Lett, the brother of Mr. Lett,
Magistrate of Surrey. In the situation of housekeeper
she had gained the respect and esteem of her master and
mistress, and was particularly respected by her young
master, Captain Lett, whom she nursed in his infancy.
For some time Mr. Lett and family have resided at
Dulwich, and Mrs. Jeff had the sole care of the house
in Montague-place, and kept a couple of rooms in rea-
diness for the temporary use of any member of the
family, when business called them to London. She
had been twice married ; her first husband was named
Knight, by whom she had a son, who is now living,
and is a feather manufacturer, or a plummier, in Cur-
sitor-street, Chancery-lane. Her second husband, Mr.
Jeff, died ahortly before she became Mr: Lett's house-
keeper. She hat:air two nephews, and a grandson, to
whom she was mu& attached. It has been stated that
the old Lady was prnirrieus in her habits, and that she
kept by her a considerable sum of money, the produce
of her yearly savings. Of this fact we have not been
ale to ascertain anything positive. Some motive must
have induced the commission of the dreadful deed, and
it was naturally supposed that her property was the
object the fiend had in view whet% he perpetrated this
piece of butchery ; but it has not been ascertained, we
believe, that plunder was net the object which instigated
the crime, for *ugh the drawers were all ransacked,
not any prorrwhas been missed.. The old Lady was'
seen about eiglit'o'clock, on Monday night, standing in
the hall of her Maker's house, talking to a man dressed
in blue, wearing t white apron, by the pot-boy of the
Gower Arms public-house, in Gower-street, Bedford-
square, who usually' took her a pint of porter every
evening. As soon as he had deliveted the beer she shut
the door. On the following day she was not seen by
any person, which created much surprise in the mind of
an elderly woman, who was servant at a house next door,
in Montague-place, because the old Lady was daily in
the habit of coming to her to have what they called,
is a little gossip.° Some persons came to the door and
knocked in the course of the afternoon ; and receiving
no answer, went away. The servants at the next house,
not seeing the window-shutters opened as usual, thought
that something had befallen the unfortunate woman,
which suspicion was strengthened at a late hour arriving
Fed tie shutters still remaining closed.
The female who had been the intimate friend of the
Old lady. after knocking at the door ineffectually,
employed a man to get on the top of Mr. Lett's house,
and !to enter at a window. The man effected an en-
unite, and proceeded down stairs into the }louse-
keeper's room, which is a dark room in the front of the
groand floor. A spectacle here presented itself which
was an dreadful that the man was for a time horror-
struck. After recovering in some degree from the fright,
he proceeded to the front door, and let in the servants
of the next house; and upon receiving information that
Mrs. Jeff was murdered, they proceeded to the servants
hall. At the top of the suirs leading thereto they found
a candlestick, with a candle in it half burnt, which had
been turned in socket and extinguished. On enter-
ing the servants' hall, they discovered the body of die
unfortunate old. tronisn. lying on its back on the floor,
between two chairs, with bet throat cut from ear to ear,
and her clothes tinuiated with blood. Her head, which
was attached tolhe neck merely by a bit of skin, was
lying in a pool:of clotted blood. 'The body was quite stiff
anctcold, and there is every reason to believe the deed was
committed on Monday night; and from the situation of
the body, the chairs, and a table, iris believed the mur-
derer had been sitting with her, and probably she had been
regaling him before he destroyed her. A pint pot,
containing a small quantity of beer, was standing on
the table. The fatal wound inflicted must have been
received in the apartment where she was discovered, as
there were no traces of blood beyond the immediate
spot; but in some 'of the drawers up stairs, there were
marks of blood, as.if the murderer or murderers had
been there with bloody bands. Upon the first discovery
of the deceased, it occurred to some persons that she
might have committed the act herself; but very little
examination was necessary to prove the groundlessness
of such a supposition. There was no weapon near her,
by which she could have inflicted the wound; but there
was lying beside her a razor case, and little doubt re-
mains that her murderer had, in his hurry, omitted to
carry off this, which may, in all probability, lead to his
detection. The razor case cannot be recognized by
any of the persons acquainted with' the house, so that
it must have been brought there by the author of this
atrocious act. On the arrival of Mr. Halls, Mr.
Stafford, the chief clerk, and the officers, Salmon, Gar-
diner, and Futzmaa, at the house, a surgeon was sent
for, and he examined the body, and said decisively that
she had been murdered. It was then discovered that
the pockets of the deceased were turned inside out,
and several drawers in tbehouse had been rifled; they
had all War marks of bloody fingers on them; on the
table there was a small workbasket, which was also
besmeared with blood. The officers were dispatched
by the Magistrates to apprehend a person said to
be a near relation of the deceased. The officers
took the man in custody within half an hour, and
he underwent an examination before Mr. Halls. He
was asked where be was oa, Monday night, and
he replied with 'apparent unernbarrasstnent and
candour. He stated the hour be left his house on
Monday, and that'll! went by the coach to Brentford.
He mentioned the different places which be called at
on his return to Wein cal foot, and whither he went after
his arrival in London, at eight o'clock at night. The
Magistrate ordered him to be taken to St.Giles's watch-
house, anUtetained there till inquiry could be made
into the truth of his statement, and the Coroner's Inquest
had been held on the body. Information was immediately
sent to Dulwich to advertise the family of Mr. Lett of
the circumstance, and in the coarse of the night Mr. and
Mrs. Lett'arrived in town. In the confusion and agita-1
I don of the moment they cannot tell what the villain'

*r.~

may have earried oft, but they do not think much be-
longing to them halkfleerc JIWIEL. •
Mr. Lett, the Magistrate, also airived at the house,
and the most vignroostarg•--.....ti0ns were made to discover
'the assassin. It was directed by the Magistrates that
the body should not be removed from the position in
which it was found till a Coroner's Jary had examined
it. In the course of yesterday another respectable sur-
geon living in the neighbourhood carefully examined
the wound in the throat, preparatory to his giving evi-
dence upon the Coroner's Inquest ; and he is decidedly
of opinion, from the nature a the incision, that it is a
most foul murder, and could not have been inflicted
by her own hands.—Salmon remained at the house the
greater part of the night: and yesterday Gardiner and
Furzman went in pursuit of another person '•egainst
whom suspicion has been excited, from his having re-
cently visited the deceased, and from the Magistrates
being of opinion that the murderer was very intimately
acquainted with the house. Yesterday evening Mr.
Stirling, the Coroner, received information of the Ira.
gical event, and he immediately issued his warrant for
the convening a Jury to sit on the body this day.
Yesterday afternoon Mr. Halls again proceeded to
the house, and had an interview with Mr. Lett, the
Magistrate. Gardiner and Furzman were admitted,
and they received some information, and were dispatch-
ed in a coach to execute the orders intrusted to their
charge. The nephews and grandson of the deceased
have been examined. The pot boy of the Gower Arms
gave a more minute description of the man whom he
saw on Monday night talking to the deceased, but his
description does not at all correspond with that of
Knight. The latter persisted in his entire innocence of
the crime, and declared that he was not aware of the
occurrence till the officers came to his house and took
him from his wife and five children. The grandson of
the deceased was in constant attendance yesterday in
Montague•place. The sensation created by this dread,
ful transaction in the neighbourhood is very great.