Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-22
NOT GUILTY.
AN IRISH MURDER CASE.

nam Graham. Mr.. Jennings scotch steward, a:
mS entetQ his comfortable home In the yard IN
t mnic ~. ne nad Ived for fifteen years. IL wish
tne placKguard Murphys were out of this for
KNOW they viii never quit this mischief as long
| as they are here" ~ '0As
80 do l. Bill" answered his wife. while Ora.
nails. with which to repair the wooden palIne
BUt mad ye not better wait and eat yollI
| ready" 10 noAii'
NO. will make the tenee Tight In f, Va min
ules, and then can eat my breakfast In com
Lolt; out wish the master would come home
ana 90 something ABOUT the Murphys. It would
be better to leave them the bit of a field than RI
have all this trouble at his yard gate n he does
not put them out" ~ oS
We'll. for Gods SAKE take care, Bill, and
them until the master returns; Tor thew are s'a
with them himself" Wv ''o
nc I,,; woman. l don't fear all the Murphys
this INFAMOUS country ever bred; but don't We
De AFRAID that am gOn' to enter into auy arptl.
nent with them. Indeed, they have been mora
CIVIL NE for the last week than since they lost
the held; and I'm thinking they see that liza no
use Tying threatening letters on me-"
VIII Se have two eggs or Jhree?" the good
woman called after him as he went through the
uach gaze, close outside which was the house
luded " A"' al
Three: for I'm thinking I'll 90 into the mar
~, ,c-oay, he answered, as he looked back,
They were the last words he ever spoke.
MIS- Graham returned to the comfortable
paTioT. where the breakfast things were laid,
and calculating that he would return In ten
minutes, she mad everything ready for min:
the eggs were boiled, and piles of butterei
TOAST were carefully laid before the fire. But
twenty minutes passed, and he did not appear.
she replaced the eggs In hot water, cracking
the Shells that they might not become hard;
and after waiting another ten minutes she went
10 the yard gate TO call him.
was not hundred yards from the gate and
mad been put up to fence of about an acre from
the grass field, Immediately behind the ward.
THIS acre had been let to Michael Murphy about
nVe years before, as he had taken the home
farm during the absence abroad OF MIR. Jen-
| nngs, and he wanted the accommodation of the
small plot. But year before, as 1t was required
for Mr. Jennings use, he was called upon to
give IL up, and refused point blank Within six
months notice to quit was served upon him by
Graham, the steward, and at the next sessions
II wanted put the legal proof of the service OF
me notice 10 obtain, In due course a decree for
Possession. Twice before the service OF the notice
GRAHAM had received threatening letters and
once since the service had been effected But.
fearless In the performance OF his duty he took
Rsk. '--'
Yrs. Graham walked out of the yard gate.
ard past the door of Murphy's house. Through
the open door she observed Mrs. Murphy and
her two daughter sitting over the fire Knitting
None OF the men were about. Looking to the
rail- had been displaced. No man stood repairing
1t, but close by a something that might be a
bundle OF clothes. Too well she knew what%hat
meant, and with cry OF horror she rushed to
the spot, to lind her husband On his face. his
arms extended, and the Ratchet lying beside
him. Mrs Graham was not woman
20 so 'on Into hytsTc f,s or to give way to
lieved weaker nature. AS she gently
turned him over 1t needed not glance at his
pailid face to show that he was dead. With q
SI ZIlniF q ont nr,6
| head in her lap. remained quietly regarding
| him for a considerable time. She did not see
| Mrs. Murphy come to the door, and, looking
| over at the place where she sat, In the bright
! blaze of the morning sun. turn back to resume
| her knitting at the lire. She did not see their
own workman look cautiously over the garden
nothing but the dead face of her husband, and
| her mind few back over the many happy years
| they had lived together since they left their
northern home: the years OF his strong man
hood al the last anxious year of bis slowly
! eobiDg life-for sickness had laid its hand upon
him. and the dispensary doctor had given but
| slender hope OF his ultimate recovery.
AT length, laying him down. with her apron
over his face, she walked resoluteiy TO the open
| door CT Murphy's house.
! Come out you mnrderers, and let me look
| you in the face" she shouted. You have
| threatened him long enough, ard now you have
{ Killed him at last, like the towards that you
! are"
The Lord save US: What is the matter,
! N
air OF the deepest concern.
/ Matter! Well you know! Where are your
numbering sons that killed my husoand?'
| 'Oh, the cross of Heaven be about US. What
! do you mean, ma'am:' said Mrs. Murphy, ap.
| pareLtly almost speeches. with agitation
| while size regerently made the sign OF the eros;
| OH her forehead and breast.
! What do I mean: There-there. DO you
! see where he nc5-Where your murdererS have
| Ell him"' again shouted Mrs. Graham, drdggin e
Mis- Murphy to the door. "oh, my poor Bnl
hlt hrAIr Cvl,t tt>fr
| numbering country" And wrtnglng her hands
| Wildly. She turned abruptly. and went buck Il
| the house.
All this learned after my arrival The D )lce
| had already sent for the COZ oner and from al
The surrounding stations additional const ,bles
Kept dropping In. until at length there WERE
rgdy eReiuded on Phe field asd
search began for any clue that might be dis
| covered. Not ten yards from the broken palms
was found Io "a brass cartridge case similar t
| II had been recently discharged, and already
! the police had found that two bullets haf
passed through Graham's body. About tht
spot We're found couple of rusty nails. an ole
tGbacco-pipe. piece OF boot lace, the iron tiI
OF bOotheel, half horn coat button, and
torn piece from the leaf OF song book. Except
but they were carefully put by lest by any
| chance they might afford clue.
The three Murphys were absent. and from
the Information given by Mrs. Graham there
derer., directed, therefore, that the house
| should be thoroughly searched from roof Il
| floor.
| Into the house the police went and searched
II carefully; passing their hands over every
beaE TO see II 1t might not be followed On tht
top, and gun laid In the place; probing TIT
! thatch where arms are often hidden; scannine
, every square foot Of the floor; searching The
| chimney, the fireplace, under the hearthstOne
feeling inside the frames of the bedsteads
| where guns are sometimes hung on hooks: ex.
| aiming the beds themselves: Searching care
fully under them where long wells are otter
+, sunk for the arms and covered over with 8
board, the clay, If clay floor being carefully
! rammed down on top; looking closely at the
Jambs OF the doors and the llntels; peering into
every cupboard, box, pail and lug; lifting Out
| The dresser, behind which Is favorite hiding
place. and generally turning upside doWI
everything in the house. In the dark corner O.
little cupboard was found an empty cartridge
case. exactly the same as the one found clos
10 the body; and on the clay floor OF the roon
| was the remains OF piece OF burnt paper thai
had probably been used TO light q pipe. A
| small oval piece remained unconsumed, anC
bad evidently rested under the heel OF gun
| stock, the mark remaining in the damp floor
This was all; and, though affording indication:
| In confirmation OF our suspicious, could not
| see much hope OF evidence sufficient to justify
an arrest.
| BY this time the coroner had arrived and thu
| jury, having viewed the body. q post mOrten
| examination was ordered To person Wh(
| mas not gone through course of surgery moth
! Ing can be imagined more horrible than thu
I post m0rtem examination necessary I'm caSea nj