The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-11-27 00:00:00

BRUTAL MURDER OF MICHAEL DONNAGHUE,
A RAILWAY CONTRACTOR OR "GANGER" ON THE
NORTH UNION, AND PRESTON AND LANCASTER RAILWAYS.

We had the painful duty to record in our last paper, the
details of a callously cruel case of mauler of a young Scotch-
man, of the name of Henderson, perpetrated in a secluded
part of moor country between Blackburn and Bolton; and
we had the sorrowful satisfaction of presenting an account
of proceedings held before the coroner, which, although not
then completed, afforded good grounds for indulging a belief
that the guilty offender was discovered, and that the law
would not be disappointed of the victim maimed by outraged
justice and humanity. There was also something of another
kind of extenuating feature in the commission, of the dark
deed, (ifanv thing whatever may be offered as a palliation of
so deep a crime as murder,) and this possible mitigation
seemed to present itself in the fact which the preliminary
proceedings then, and as since completed, appeared to render.
-highly probable, namely, that Whittle; the alleged murderer,
was the sole contriver and the only individual implicated in
the most foul and unnatural and cowardly deed. it is now,
however, become a duty to furnish our readers with the par-
ticulars relating to another case of murder that took place on
Monday evening last, the scene of which brutal and bloody
act was not a lone sequestered wild, but in a dwelling-house,
in Brown-street, near Marsh-lane, Preston ; the guilty per-
petrators of which have not Net been apprehended, nor has
there yet appeared a probable clue that their place of con-
cealment is likely to be soon discovered ; and instead of its
being likely that one abandoned individual was alone con-
cerned in the perpetration of the horrifying tragedy, there
exists not the shadow of a doubt that at least sixteen mis-
creants in human form, were either actively sharing in the
work of slaughtering the defenceless victim of their barbarian
fury, or that they were undoubtedly present, and were wil-
lingly consenting to the murderous purpose of their more
pre-eminently guilty confederates. As, however, the facts
disclosed in the evidence given before the coroner on Tues-
day, which we subjoin, will place the deed in so black a view,
we may forbear to harrow the feelings of the reader, by adding
to the horrifying disclosures, any comments which would
seem to aggravate this shocking act of ruthless ciiminality.
But as it will be seen that the inquiry before the coroner is
postponed to Monday next, we may, perhaps, be allowed to
add a few preliminary particulars. We shall proceed, then,
to say, that a post mortem examination of the murdered
man was held on Tuesday ; the medical gentlemen engaged
were Dr. St. Clare, Dr. Stavert, and Mr. tlowitt, surgeon.;
the last-named gentleman was the principal, it' not exclusive,
operator. On the exterior of the head, at the bSck part,
were found numerous wounds, but the skull was not fractured,
and on the right temple was a deep. cut, which might have
been possibly produced by a heavy Sail, but was much more
probably occasioned by some deadly weapon, and it is con-
cluded by the medical gentlemen, front the internal appear.
ances corresponding to this wound, that the deceased's
death was effected instantaneously by the blow that made it.
On the throat of the deceased were the evident marks of an
attempt having been made, either to cause death by strangu-
lation, or that the fiends, after haying dispatched their un-
fortunate victim, were determined to " make assurance
doubly sure," by thus giving a perfect consunnation to their
murderous purpose. We learn, however, from one of the
medical authorities we have named, and in that opinion we
understand his colleagues concur, that life must have been
undoubtedly extinct in the deceased before the pressure that
produced these discolourations on the throat was effected ; it
therefore follows that the villains were foiled in this attempt
to add to his mortal agonies. Having, then, completed the
deed of murder, their next hasty business was to plunder the
deceased of the money which they were aware he had in his
possession, and we gather from the evidence of Riley, at the
inquest, that the amount would be about £5. The savage
and villainous desires of the wretches now being fully glutted,
the whole gang suddenly left the house by a back way, and
although they were seen escaping, as was shown at the in-
quest, the completion of the murder and robbery not being
then known, and the police officers not exactly on the spot,
they were enabled to get so clearly out of the way, by flight
or concealment, as to have baffled ail subsequent endeavours
to secure them. It will be seen that the Lackeys are all
known ; and that they arc principals in the first degree in the
dreadful crime that has been committed, is quite evident. We
therefore most gladly desire to aid in every possible way to
procure their apprehension, and have fur that purpose given
at the foot of the proceedings, as correct a description of
their respective ages and appearances as can be obtained,
anti we may also add, that a reward of £'2s has been offered
for their apprehension and conviction. It will be in the re-
collection of the public in this neighbourhood, that in con-
sequence oladisag,reement between the Irish and the English
labourers on the Lancaster end of the railway forming be-
tween that town and Preston, that a number of Irishmen, of
desperate characters, were effectually driven from the line;
now among the number were these identical Lackeys; this
information will therefore assist all those labourers to aid in
their detection. Of the twelve or thirteen other " boys"
fetched into Lackey's house to witness or participate in the
robbery at least, if not the murder, of Donnaghue. there
seems to be nothing known, or we should perhaps rather
say, that nothing to lead to their discovery has been yet dis-
closed; for it is altogether beyond the bounds of credulity to
allow fora moment, that so large a number of persons are
unknown. There is, indeed, already indirect testimony given
that may be used in leading to their detection and identity,
but it is certainly necessary to establish it, that various indi-
viduals should give their assistance. It was stated en the
inquest that Julia, Pat, and Mick Lackey went out of the
house at the bidding of James Lackey, and brought in the
"boys," (12 or 13 men), and it was made to appear that
these " boys" had a claim on the deceased for wages, as well
as had the Lackeys. Now it surely cannot be difficult to
ascertain the exact individuals who were employed by Dun-
naghue ; and as the day when the absentees left the town is
also fully known, that fact would greatly strengthen the sus-
picion ofguilt which their non-appearance on the lines since,
must have awakened. But even although they were not all
employed by the deceased, the other contractors or "gangers"
are not ignorant of the number and names of their respective la-
bourers.
From what gang or gangs then have these twelve or thir-
teen murderous ruffians deserted? If these contractors of
" gangers" do not at once purge themselves from all collusive
participation in the murder, by screening the murderers, they
may then, if they like, eudeavour to satisfy their own con-
sciences by motives of fear, or some other quibbling expe-
dient; but if they would deserve for themselves the protec-
tion of the law, they should cast every such idle consideration
to the winds, and assist by all the means in their power, to
give up to the punishment of the law, these barbarians who
have set at nought its most sacred prohibition. We shall,
therefore, trust, that a ready co-operation will he given by
all parties who have the power to render effective assistance
procuring the apprehension of every one present at. rt..
Lasso...at...a- sr ~,eniwuer ; fur ilatiuugli toe veromt ot the
coroner's jury has not yet been pronounced, the evidence
already given plainly indicates of what description it will be.
Before concluding; our remarks, previous to introducing the
proceedings of the inquest, we may just mention that in
Lackey's house, where there the murder was committed,
there was not found either table, chair, or any article of fur-
niture. A rude bench seemed to have served the purposes
of a table, and on the flour were blocks of wood, which were
used as seats, for chairs. At night the degraded inmates were
wont to place some straw or bundel of rags in the different
parts of floors, and then with the aid of a covering of rags,
their wretched dormitories were considered well furnished
and ready for use. Th e district in which this house of Lackey
is situate, has gained for itself a most appropriate designa-
tion—it is called the, " Irish Rookery;" and whilst the
hordes of the " finest pisantry" that now inhabit it, shall
continue to make it their particular settlement, the name by
which it is now known can never be changed for a more sig—
nificant one. A-propos of this locality—here were murdered
some years ago Scott and his wife, by puisen administered
by their abandoned daughter Jane Scott; and here also,
more recently, a very respectable old person of the nalunof
Edward Gregson was brutally murdered, by his throat having
been cut in a shocking manner, the guilty perpetrator of
which crime has never yet been discovered. But we hope
that the last black coincidence affecting this part or the town
has now been made, and that the climes now enumerated
may be all that shall be remembered in the recollections of
the present generation, or read as historical facts by posterity.
TliE JURY.
James Park, foreman, John Gibson, Henry Whittle, Wm.
Smith, George Bateman, William Taylor, W illiam I lam-
son, William Pinder,- Evan Horigkinson, Thomas Akers,
Robert Taylor, John Latham, George Foster, John Hard-
man, Jos. Haslem.
The following are the proceedings of the
INQUEST.
John Riley, of Preston, labourer, the first witness ex-
amined, said he lived in Preston, and was acquainted with the
deceased, who was a contractor or " ganger" on railways. he
was about 40 years of age. The deceased lodged at Lines
Lackey's, in Brown-street, Marsh-lane, and witness had
lodged at the house, but left it on Sunday, but was at the
house on Monday afternoon, at five o'clock, and he had seen
the deceased receive £6 17s. from O'Hare, all in silver, for
the purpose of paying workmen, and witness saw the deceased
pay four workmen their earnings at the Bay Horse, in Pen-
wort ham, which place he left with the deceased and Michael
Lackey, about half-past five o'clock, and went to the house
of Lackey, in Brown-street, and found there James Lackey
and Julia his wife, and Patrick Lackey, there were also seve-
ral other workmen present, who wanted their wages, about
which a dispute had been raised its consequence of Mrs.
Lackey putting in a claim for provisions furnished to some
of the claimants, for which the deceased felt himself respon-
sible, and was wishful to pay. A mats called "Dublin Ned"
was one of the persons in the house. Snots after witness went
to the house of Lackey, Julia Lackey went out for the pur-
pose, as she stated, of getting the shop bills of the articles
owing for, and on tier return she brought a bill, which was
made out in so informal a manner, that the deceased refused
to acknowledge its authenticity, and then desired her to re-
turn and get it properly signed. She then turned on her
heel, and said she would have it kicked out of his body before
he left the house : and immediately afterwards James Lackey,
her husband, got up, and made use of the same expression,
and then told his brothers. Michael and Patrick Lackey, to go
out and bring in a few of the boss who wanted their wages,
and then they would either kick the life out of him or the
head of him, or snake him pay, and those persons, with Julia
Lackey went out, and came back in about five minutes,
bringing in with them twelve or thirteen Men, bot.witnesa
did not know their names. There was then a silence for a
short time, which Julia Lackey broke by saying she would
go for another bill. Witness then sent a person for the con-
stables. The woman returned in ten or fifteen minutes,
about, three minutes before the constables came in, anti
brought another bill, (which he produced), but this had no
particulars in it, the amount was £2 17s. 6d., the goods fur
which were stated to have been had on the 9th of November.
When the two police-officers arrived, James Lackey told
them they were not wanted, but witness said they were, as
he believed that murder was about to be committed; how-
ever, the constables went away, but said they would be in the
street if wanted, and witness immediately followed them.
As soon as witness left the house he heard the lock of the
door turned, and its five minutes afterwards he heard the
screams of the deceased. There was no noise of disorder
when the police were at the house. Witness wished to get
into the house again, but the persons inside would not open
the door. James Lackey called out to know who was at
the door? which witness answered, and Lackey afterwards
added, " go to hell out of that, or I'll kick sour rump too."
Witness then walked about the street for a few minutes, and
heard the deceased screaming and calling out fur mercy, and
telling the persons to mind that. Witness ran to the head of
the street, and called for the police, but could not meet with
any officer, and presently afterwards saw twelve or fourteen
men that were in the house coming from the back part of
Lackey's premises, and among them were Michael and Pa-
trick Lackey ; the latter was without his hat ; it was then
about eight o'clock in the evening. None of the men were
drunk. Witness did not know any of the other men.
—George Holt, constable, here produced two hats, which
witness knew, and said they belonged to Michael and Patrick
Lackey, he having seen them worn by those two persons.
A little before nine o'clock, witness went. into the house,
and there found the deceased dead, and was gathered in a
lump in the corner. Ile saw several wounds shout the head,
and there was a large quantity of blood on the fluor. Witness
was quite sure that the deceased had as much as £5 in his
was
so
dead,
ead,
h e Lackey's
fouhnodus% money in his
pocketsearched
whenhimbut when he
plessession.
William Ingham, labourer, was next examined, and he
haeftewrehnet
said he was at James Lackey's house on Monday evening,
about seven o'clock; there were twelve or thirteen other per-
sons present. He knew the Lackey's, but not any of the
other mena This witness then corroborated the evidence of
Riley, as to the dispute about the shop bill, and the men's
claim for their wages; and he then went on to say, that
Lackey's wife, after being refused her bill rushed towards
the deceased, and said he should pay by that bill before he
left the house, anti if she had a poker she'd beat it out of
him. James Lackey also said he would have the amount
of the bill, or he would kick it out of the deceased. The de-
ceased observed that Lackey was not able to kick him, and
he in reply observed, if he could not do it himself be could

get it done. Witness saw James Lackey put his shoes on,
some time after the dispute commenced; and he also saw
Michael LaCkey strip himself into his*shirt, and then heard
him tell the other men to come, and he threatened .the de-
ceased that he would take the money from him. Witness,
then, along with another man left the house, the men within
it having said that if they interfered to protect the deceased
they would punish them in the same mauner. Witness saw
no blows struck. When he went back to the house; about
eight o'clock, the deceased was dead, and the Lackeys and
the other men whom he had seen in the house, had left it.. •
There were three other labourers sworn and questioned,
but they either could not or would not furnish any other fresh
facts.
The Coroner then said, as it was necessary, if possible, to
get other evidence, he thought the ends of justice would be
best consulted by adjourning the inquest, which he did to
Monday next, at one o'clock in the afternoon.
James Lackey is abut 3d years of -age, 5 feet 8 inches
.high, of fair conuntenance. Michael Lackey, 33 years old,
5 feet 6 or 7 inches high, and is a durk looking man. Patrick
Lackey is about 22 years old, 5 feet 5 inches high, and of fair
countenance.. Julia Lackey, wife of James Lackey, is about
28 years old, middle size, and good looking.

A MARVELLOUS STORY.

On Wednesday, the 17th ult., (five weeks ago last Wed
nesday,) a lad of twelve years of age, named John Winder
the son of Mrs. Julia Ann Winder, a widow, living in Eller
street, Cross-lane, and the mistress of the Pendleton Infants'
School, left home in the morning, and did not return; and
notwithstanding numerous inquiries, all that could be heard
of him was, that he had been last seen ou the New Bailey
Bridge, shortly after eight o'clock, on the morning of that
day. Several davi passed over, and nothing more being
heard of him, bills were posted, and he was advertised in
the London Hue and Cry, in the following terms:—
" Boy Missisin.—Left home, in the neighbourhood
Cross-lane, Salford, on Wednesday, the 17th instant, (Oct.
about eight o'clock in the morning, ano was last sego of
the New Bailey Bridge, shortly after that time. He is atioui
twelve years of age, four feet four inches in height, liglY
hair, fair complexion, with a slight -scar on the upper lip
dressed in a drab fustian jacket, waistcoat, and trousers
black silk handkerchief; and cloth cap. Any information
which can be given to Mr. niggles, constable, Town-hall,
Salford, that he may be.restored to his distressed parent, will
be most thankfully received.—Oct 23, 1835."
These means failed to obtain any tidings of the lad, and
his mother and friends had altogether despaired of ever seeing
him again alive, supposing hint, with some reason, to have
fallen into the river or canal, when, on Monday last, nearly
five weeks after his disappearance, the lad returned imiite,
and related such a strange story of his adventures during his
absence, that Mr. Ilobday, one of the constables of Pendle-
ton, on hearing it,• very properly took the buy to the Man-
chester police-office, the same day, with a view to having
the circumstances a little investigated. The story of the boy,
as related to the constables of Manchester, was substantially
in the following terms:—
On that. Wednesday, five weeks since to-day, I was walk-
ing along the bank of the river, near the New Bailey, and a
man, with an empty boat, drawn by two horses, asked me if
1 would ride upon one of his horses. I got up, and rode about
a mile, and then got off, and was going tonne, when the man,
who was captain of the boat, took hold of my arni, and pulled
me into the boat, and said he would take me home soon. I
cried, and then he put me below, and said he should soon
return, and would bring use hack with him. Ile took me to
Liverpool, and •I cried, and asked to go back to my mother,
and the boatman said he was not going back for a few days,
and he would take me to another vessel that was going to
sail to Manchester the next day. It was night when we got
to Liverpool, and he took me through several streets, and to
the sea side, and placed a ladder, with two bent hooks at the
end, to stick in the stones, and 1 went down the ladder into
a small boat. I was taken in the small boat, and put upon
a large vessel, lying a good distance out, and it took us a
long time to go there. When the boatman from Manchester
and me got tip the large vessel, the boatman told the captain
of the vessel that 1 was his nephew. I told him I was not,
and 1 was ordered below stairs, and the captain and this
boatman went away, and left the vessel together. 1 was in
that vessel from that day until Saturday night last, and,
during that time, I was made to cleats the deck, and wash
different places, and do odd jobs about; and I was kept
chiefly upon salt beef, biscuits, and whiskey punch. They
called the captain "John Jones," and the mate "Ball," or
"Bold." There were two boys upon deck, brothers; and
they said they came front Scotland, and that their father and
mother had bound them apprentices to Captain Jones. They
called them Thomas and John Turner. They said they had
been one voyage to New South Wales. I got very friendly
with the mate of the vessel; he very often said prayers, and
read his Bible • and be and me read the Bible together verse
for verse. The mate said he would see if he could not assist
me in escaping. I was a month and five clays on board this
vessel, and during that time she never moved. Besides the
captain and mate, the two boys (Turner) and myself, there
were nineteen sailors on board. Most of the men were of a
yellow colour, and wore rings in their ears; and one of them
score a ring in his nose. On Saturday last, a vessel loaded
with sets [large square stones for paving]] lost its anchor, and
was driven back to sea, and it came alongside the vessel I
was upon, and fastened to it with a rope. That night the
captain was gone to tea, and all the sai.ors were drunk, and
the mate got hold of me and placed me upon a rope that fas-
tened the other vessel to ours ; and I .slided down it, and hid
myself amonest some hay that was amongst the sets, and
kept there till Sunday noun, and then I was found there by
the captain of that boat, and we were atßuncorn. The cap-
tain was vexed at my being there, and he drove me on shore,
and I asked which was the way to Manchester, and I came
all along the river side all night, and 1 got to Manchester on
Monday morning.
Ott hearing this story, Mr. George Wood and Mr.Woollam,
constables of Manchester, directed Mr. Beswick, the principal
police beadle, to proceed to Liverpool, and make inquiries
as to the vessel for New South Wales, &c. Mr. Beswick
took the boy with him. and bad interviews with Mr. hall, the
stipendiary magistrate; Messrs. Shuttleworth and Ellis,
clerks to the magistrates; Mr. Dowling, superintendent of
police, and other official persons, all of whom declared their
conviction that the whole of the story of John Winder was a
fabrication Mr, AskeW, the haemur-toaster, who offered
every assistance in his power. expressed strongly his disbelief
of the strange statements of Winder. Lieut. Walker, tide-
surveyor autl inspector of the river, was of a similar opinion
as to the falsehood of the statements. He stated, that all the
vessels that came within the Black Rock, as well as every
vessel in quarantine, were reetterd at his office; and theta
was no ship or other vessel „"ittvitig
.such a crew as described
hi, thp mind, life ILeutenant hinted, tattet be nst..s...-
ing under some strange halltscination. Both Lieut. Walker
and Mr. Askew paid every attention to the ease; and as to
one statement of the boy, they declared that they had been on
board many hundered vessels in their lives, and they had
never yet seen one matt with a ring in his nose. Mr.• Be-
s extended his inquiries amongst the pilots, and they de-
clared that there bad been no vessel lying out for mole than
three or four days; nor was it likely that such should be the
case, for a vessel lying out at anchor, with her crew on board,
the wages and maintenance of the crew would be going on ;
whereas, if the vessel were in dock, the crew, while not at
work, would have no claim fur wages. Mr. Beswick next
sought in vain for the boatman, who, the boy said, had rowed
hint from Liverpool to the large vessel. All the boatmen
ridiculed the idea of any vessel lying out so long. The boy,
amongst other duties on board the vessel, said he had been
compelled to go up two flights of rope ladders, to set a small
flag; but the boatmen laughed at this and said that small
flags were always hoisted by a line from the deck. Mr.
Beswick next took the lad to succession to St. George's
Dock, Prince's, Waterloo Clarence, Nova Scotia, Salthonse,
and other docks; but the lad said he could not see any vessel
at all resembling the one on board of which he had been de-
tained. At length, after visiting Lloyd's Rooms, and having
given more pains and trouitle to this inquire than would be
expended in some localities in conducting investigations
relating to a murder, Mr. Beswick returned to this town
on Thursday night last, with the lad, requiring him to be at
the polka: office again, yesterday morning at nine o'clock,
in order to go with hint to discover the flatman, who, he
said, had taken him from Manchester. The lad did not
make his apPearence, and he was accordingly sent for, when
he still- persisted in his story. Our reporter saw Lim at
the police-office, and asked him
,the names of the flat and
ship ; but he said he never heard or saw either, and he never
asked the mate of the latter what was her name.' Our re-
porter then asked him what books he was fond of reading.
The lad said the Bible, prayer books, and hymn books; but
he subsequently said that his elder brother paid a penny a
month to a Sunday school library fur the luau of books, and
that they had read Captain Cook's voyages. Ile said that
Robinson Crusoe was not in that library; but on further
questioning, he said his mother hail that work, but he de-
clared she would not allow him to read ml, and that he bad
never read more than a page or two of it, relating to Crusoe
being wrecked. Now those who have read this work will
recollect that Crusoe, a runaway from his parents, the second
day of his first voyage is dismayed by a storm, and, by the
lad who tempted him to leave bitml he is supplied with punch,
a liquor not usual on . board vessels now ; but, nevertheless,
the same which Winder asserts was given him. Crusoe's
vessel lay seven or eight days in Yarmouth roads, waiting a
wind ; hence the alleged length of time during which Winder
says he was on board the ship at anchor. It would require
no remarkable stretch of a lively imagination to convert
the crew of the Sallee rover of Ciusoe into the yellow men,
with rings in their ears and noses of this young. romanceer.
We have been somewhat diffuse in our notice of the case,
because that, from the lad's youth and manner, he has gained
credence for his tale in various quarters, amongst individuals
of great respectability; and because, if believed, the story
must tend to awaken a host of groundless apprehensions
on the part of parents, especially those residing in the neigh-
bourhood of rivers and canals. The circumstances in detail,
however, of this story, are, we should think, quite enough of
themselves to satisfy any reflecting mind that the whole is a
fable—such a fable as a clever imaginative boy of twelve
years old, having read nautical books, and especially Robin-
son Crusoc,,, might invent. The only remarkable circumstance
is the fact of the boy's absence during live weeks.. Whets he
returned, his clothes were soiled with tar or pitch, and there
is little doubt that he has been on board some vessel. The
probability is that be was a volunteer sailor; like- the hero of
the fiction Robinson Crusoe, and having got tired or fright-
ened, he left his vessel, and then invented this story to con-
ceal his disobedience and wayward folly.
Since the former part of this article was written, we learn
that Mr. Beswick discovered, yesterday afternoon, that the
boy left home about nine months ago, and at that time ab-
sented himself for five days. We think if any thing were
wanted to satisfy the too credulous, as to the real character
of the story, this circumstance is amply sufficient.—Mancher-
ter Guardian.