The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-31
The Excellent Condition of the Do
minion EXchequer.
American Lard Barred Out of. Cuba-Dan-
gerous Explosives Discovered ut Liver
pooI-Minor Items of Interest
ESTHER CRoUGaAN's MURDER.
rbw an Irish Assassin Was Employed for

s1bw an Irish Assassin Was Employed for
= Ten Shilings to Kill Peasant.
The latest Dublin papers, March II, bring
information of a remarkable crime at Null
lingar, near Dublin. John Walsh, 4 laborer,
was arrested charged with the murder of
Esther Croughan. at Irishtown, near Mullin-
gar, on the night of Dec. 81. The accused,
after several weeks imprisonment, made q
full confession. He had been employed on
q farm adjoining land which was titled and
owned by John, Anne and Esther
Croughan. A bitter hatred existed
between the two sisters, Esther and Anne.
The latter on Dec. 25 was turned out of
doors by her mother and sister. She went
Immediately to Walsh, who had been a
sutton for her hand, and said to him that
Esther must be put out of the way Walsh
said that he could not do it himself, as he
was too we'll known to Esther and her moth
err, but he thought he could find some one
who would be willing to get rid of the girl
for a small sum. He asked Anne how much
she would be willing to give. She then gave
him ten shillings and promised to give the
Nurderer more if he got Esther out of the
way qulShly. WASH ltSLliIOlly continues
as follows:
After that made appointments with
certain persons to do away with Essy. The
first | spoke to about it was a man from Irish
town John Kane( who said it would be
well done, and that there would be plenty
got to gain money on it. He told me that he
would go in the morning and shoot her. On
the day of the murder l went into a public
house. where he gave description of how it
TIa ~
and said 1T was. A few nights after this
man said he shot Esther himself, and further
added that he went into Mrs Croughan's and
asked for drink of water he met the old
woman first, and then turned round as if to
take out his pipe, but instead took out the
revolver from his vest pocket, and then
fred a. shot over the old womans head He
said that Essy and the old woman then fed
screaming into another room, and he, follow
ing fired a shot at Essy who was leaning
against the door, and it struck her in the
breast, when she fell and when he was max
ing out of the house, Anne appeared from
another room, and he, not knowing that it
was she who employed him, fired shot
toward her shoulder. He further stated that
his companion was standing outside in field
&atching. He admitted firing five or six
&lots altogether After committing the
deed he, with his companion, crossed the
fields in the direction of the barracks and
hid the revolver in one of the fields. He
complained that my revolver was no good,
as he had tried it. My revolver was brought
back to my house. / was speaking,
after the murder to one of
the men, who said he took no part in
it, that he only went with the others. and
that he didn't go into the house. He said
he threw his revolver into pool near the
valley, a short distance from the town. 7
never got any money for the part 1 took in
the business l never asked Anne Croughan
for any money, because I never saw her from
the time of the murder till l went to Eng
land The man that fired the shot told me
that he thought Anne had a slight wound
on the shoulder; that he did not intend to
wound her, but he wanted to brighten her
back from giving any alarm till he would
make his escape"
The witness having been cross examined, a
remand for week was granted.