The Van Buren press., 1878-04-09
TERRIBLE AFFAIR.
Assassination of the Earl of Letrem.

Assassination OF the tar OF leitrem.
DUBLIN, April 1.-The earl of Leitrim,
his clerk and driver, We're all shot dead,
this morning, while driving near his
lordship's lodge, Manor Vaughan, Coun-
ty Derry. No details Of the shooting
haye come to hand.
BLOODY REVENGE.
LONDON, April "A dispatch from
Dublin states that the assassination of
Lord Leltrem and his two attendants
was the result of agrarian troubles.
Lord Leitrim had recently disputed with
his tcnantry, some of whom had mani
tested much bitterness of feeling over
their alleged grievances. There is in
tense indignation among the people OF
Donegal county over the outrage, and
measures are being taken to punish the
perpetrators. The district is one of the
most loyal in the British possessions and
had never been kept under by any of
the oppressive coercion acts of parlia-
ment.
In the house of commons, tonight,
Mr. Lowther, under colonial secretary,
confirmed the report of the shooting Of
the earl of Leitrem, and said there was
reason to suppose the crime was one of
agrarian character.
The earl of Leitrim was shot opposite
a cottage from which he had recently
elected widow. Eighty-nine of his
tenants were under notice to quit.
DETAILS OF THE TRAGEDY.
The earl of Ieitrim's body was found
in ditch. The left side Of his head was
battered in. 1t is thought he was also
shot in the head, but the fatal shot was
through the heart. The left arm is bro
ken, and the right completely shattered.
The driver and clerk were shot in the
head. The ground where the murder
was committed showed traces of hard
struggle. A fowling-picee and part of
another gun were found near the spot
Three or four mon were seen lettering
in the neighborhood before the murder
LONDON, April 3,--The following fur
Their details of the assassination Of the
Earl of Leitrim, his clerk and driver
has been tecgraphed from Dublin The
Earl of Leitrim left his residence at Mil
ford shortly before O'Clock, yesterday
morning, accompanied by his clerk, and
was driving on an outside ear to Derry
to meet his solicitor. He always carried
arms. 1t is supposed that the assassins
concealed themselves behind q low en-
bankment between the road and planta-
ton, and that having first shot the Earl
of Leitrim, they shot the clerk and dri.
yer so there might be no witnesses. His
Lornship's valet was driving a mile be-
hind, and, on coming up, found his mas
ter and clerk lying dead in the road, and
life was still in the driver. The assas-
sins, in the meanwhile, escaped in boat
across the bay. The valet drove back to
Milford, and alarmed the police, who,
coming to the place, found the driver
still alive, but unconscious. He died
shortly afterwards. There is no doubt
that the murder was agrarian. The re.
latons between the Earl of Leitrem and
his tenants were unfriendly. His Lord
ship was kind and liberal to the poor,
but was very particular and exacting in
his dealings with his tenantry, visiting,
with upsparing severity, the slightest in
fraction of the rules Of his estates. The
Reband Society have strong hold upon
the country, owing, in great measure,
to HE -harshnsss. He had en- iron will,
disregarded alike appeals and measures,
and he possessed extraordinary courage
and perseverance in the pursuit of his
purposes. The Times, in an editorial on
the assassination, says it is no exaggera-
ton to say that the news of the murder
of the Earl Of Leitrim, which caused a
profound sensation in the House of
Commons +; sensation, when confirmed
by the Irish Secretary, has struck this
country with rs much pain and amaze
ment rs an unprovokcd declaration Of
war