The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-04-15
LEITRIM'S DEATH.
Ono OF tho Assassins Speaks From
tho Depths of tho Grave.
THE DENISE OF THE FOURTH EARL
Recalls tho Trngcdy.-lIugh Stephens,
Known in this Country us Boyle,
Exoncratcs Another Dlan...IIow tho
Hard, Cruel Earl Brought About
His Own End...liis Murder "a Wild
Act Of Natural Justice"


Irishman known as Hugh Boyle. Ito
was about flfty.two and although only
common laborer, much respected for
his temperance, integrity and industry.
Abont the Same time tho English jour.
nails announced tho dscoass OF Robert
Birmingham Clements, Fourth Earl Of
Loitrim, in tho county Of Donegal, Ire.
land. Tho connection between tho
peer and the laborer is duo to the tragic
fact that Boyle was tho last survivor of
tho mon who, in 1878, shot to death tho
Third Earl, by whose removal Richard
Clements, then apoor lieutenant in tho
British navy, was raised to rank and
wealth.
1t is fact that oven tho Protestant
gentry OF the north OF Ireland, who arc
first to denounce agrarian crime, regard
cd tho killing OF Lord l.eitrim rs the in
evitablo result OF his evil lilo and char
acter.
Boyle's right name was Stephens and
he belonged to family OF yeomen pecll-
liar to tho north-sturdy, law abiding
and industrious-devout Presbyterians,
whose strongest motive in lifo is TO
maintain tho tenant right Of Ulster.
which secures 10 them q settled tenure
in their land and freedom from the
tyranny that Expresses their Catholic
brethren in the south.
For thirty years the Earl OF Lcitrim
had been ut strife with his tenants-hc
had 10000 acres OF land stretching
across three counties and giving him
rental OF over 10000 per annum, and he
spent tho best part OF this in harassing
his poorer neighbors by suits at law,
but the worst trait was shown in his
brutal and lustful attempts to dishonor
the wives and daughters OF his tenants,
and to accomplish this his influence as
Il peer and magistrate and his power rs
landlord were used without fear or re.
straint-in fact there was not 4 worse
scoundrel in Europe, and it was with
truth that his taking off was described
as "a wild act OF natural justice"
Hugh Stephens had served in the
British army for five years and with m
excellent record as q soldier. On his
return homo he rented small place
and commenced life rs farmer. Ono
day he met his landlord driving on the
road, and was ordered to ditch his little
cart so rs to make room for the peers
coach, and this command was enforced
with q horse whip, and this resented
with n cudgel, the earl getting much the
worst Of il. This was the beginning OF
trouble for Stephcns-he was evictcd
and ruined by litigation, and his sister,
beautiful and intelligent girl, was as
saultcd by a rutlianly retainer OF his
landlord and her character assailcd.
Some OF the neighboring gentry took
this up, the man was arrested, tried and
sentenced to ten years Imprisonment.
Leitrir was furious, and swore ven
geance on all concerned
In March, 1878, dozen Of the tenant
ry mot at rath in the mountains over
looking Tough Foyle. Ono OF the old
est and most respected OF the men on
the estate said few words to the ef-
feet that the tyranny of their landlord
was more than they could endure, and
1t was now necessary to resort to the
last meansin their power to preserve
their lives and the honor OF their daugh-
tiers and wives, and all swore to be true
to tho cause in life or death; 800 was
raised.
1t was resolved to act at once, and
six men were chosen as the instruments
OF justice, They had brought them.
selves to believe that in the removal OF
tyrant they were doing right. Ste
phens was their leader and he procur-
ed the necessary arms.
One OF their most active and trusted
agents was Il woman servant at Castle
Leitrim; her sister had been brutally
treated by the earl, and it was her re-
venge to keep tho assassins fully in
formed OF their victims movements.
On the I'd Of April hc left Manor
Vaughan to 60 to Milford, en- route to
Londonderry. Hc was attended by
bailif named Alcehan, who sat on the
car by his side, with tho driver in front.
There was second car containing his
valet and another bailiff. All were we'll
armed The day was beautiful but
rather misty.
Stephens and his party stationed
themselves behind clump OF low thorn
trees, close to the road, armed with
doubln-barrelled guns. From the ROOF
OF cabin 400 yards away on the hill
sile a white cloth was displayed. This
was the signal that tho earl was coming.
His indifference to danger was mani
tested by the manner in which he d.
rided his party. The second car was
lC) yards away and entirely hidden by
81 hollow in the road. 4 short time be-
fore Lord Letrim had cvictcd an aged
widow named Algec, and opposite her
ruined cabin he fell.
Three OF the party had been soldiers
and wero good shots, and each brought
down his man. One OF the guns, rude
weapon, burst aud blew tho holders
thumb oil. Tho driver was killed on
the spot. The bailiff ran back to the
hind car and dropped dead in tho road,
but the earl was alive when his enc.
mics surrounded him. While making
anchort to draw his pistol he received
three loads OF swan shot in tho body,
and when tho party behind came up lie
was dead, and, save the ruins Of tho
gun and an old horsc-pistol, nothing
was left to indicate tho identity OF his
slaycrs. Nor were they ever traced.
Two OF the criminals died in Austria
lia, two in the Boer war in South Africa,
while Stephens came to this country
and lived blamcless life until he died.
Eight years ago ho gavo this nara.
tive, intended to exoncrate another
man, and with the stipulation that it
be kept secret until after his death.
Burncd Herself In tho Jail.
CRYSTAL FALLS, Mich, April IA