The Portland daily press., 1897-11-30

On the 18th day of January, 1890, as
Father John O'Donnell, the parish priest
Of Mulrany, County Mayo, was quietly
breakfastipg in the coffee room of the
Shamrock Hotel, Westport. the head
waiter, Dennis Mccartney, an old and
privileged retainer Of the establishment,
thus addressed him:
you'll have come from Dublin by the
early morning train. Father John?'
II have then, Dennis replied the
priest, leaning back in his chair.
Ibid your reverence hear the news?
Sure they'll have it in the papers this
morning, and ugly news it is entirely
What news. Dennis. my man? slept
all the way in the train, and drove
straight to the hotel
''Then read that, your reverence,
said the waiter, placing in his hands q
large handful, moist from the press.
They're posting them over the town,
and the peelers are sending the alarm all
over the country, from here to Galway.
The priest adjusted his speotacles on his
nose, and read as follows:
4100 KEW ARD.
Last evening, as Miss Catherine Power,
of Castle Craig was being driven in her
outside car from Newport to Ballyyeeny,
she was attacked by masked men. who
were lying in ambush under the bridge
on the Ballyvesny road. The driver,
James Feeny, was struck down and rem
dered insensible. When he recovered his
senses the horse and Car were standing
by him in the road, but his mistress had
disappeared. He drove back into the
village of Mulrany and gave informa-
ton to the police. Up TO day break this
morning nothing has been heard or seen
of the unfortunate lady, and it is feared
that she has met with foul play. ANY
person who will give such information
as may lead to the Identification of her
assailants will receive the above reward.
Police Barracks, Mulrany, Jan. 9th.
''Saints of heaven % cried the priest,
turning white as sheet and springing to
his feet. "Am I awake or dreamingp
The butchering, cowardly villains! Have
they murdered her at last?''
His plump and stalwart frame shook
like leaf, but he clenched his fist as if
to strike some invisible foe.
81 knew it would be sad news to your
1OfO1CASO, calo A|SAA2SJ WAo1i q taOlOl01
shake of the head.
"Sad newsi It's like a knife in my
heart, Dennis Mccartney. My sweet
young ladyi The flower of all my fiocki
The prettiest and the best lady in Ire
land! And me away In Dublin when I
should have been watching and praying
by her sidei Give me my stick, Dennis
my hat and my stick. I'll never ate and
I'll never rest till I've discovered the viii
lains and hunted them down.
Captain Kennedy's in the stable yard,
sir, If you d like to spake to him."
| The priest nodded fiercely, and strobe
away, brandishing his stick. AS he
passed out of the back door he came face
to face with a tall, clean shaver, military
looking man, who was entering the hotel.
In the yard beyond was an outside car,
harneessd to which was horse dripping
with peFspiration. and close by the car
was group of hostlers and armed police.
whats this, Captain Kennedy, what's
this?'' cried the priest. lis it the truth
I've heard, or some horrible invention?"
TITS the truth, Father JOHN" an
swered Kennedy, touching his cap.
Miss Power was attacked again last
night, and though we've been securing
the country we can't find trace of her. D
'God help gsi'' gasped Father John,
cheeks.
It's a strange affair entirely. We
found the poor lady's cloak not fac from
the riverside, and the grass was all
trampled down as if there had been des-
perate struggle. Half a mile away, on
the hillside, we found a small lace band
kerohief with stains OF blood on it Jim
%hok l,a< to, l.
heard an awful scream from down the
river, but he was in dread of his own
life, and drove right away to-, the bar
racks"
"Deadi Murderedl Oh, Catherine,
Catherine, pulse of my heart, my dear
young ladyl"
"If she's dead, your reverence, It's
strange that we can find no trace of the
body. We've dragged the river as far as
Ballycory, and found nothing whatever.
There's just a chance that it may have
been carried down to the salt water, for
there was flood last night, but that
doesn't seem likely"
"And the scoundrels who did it? The
butchering, numbering cowards?' cried
the priest, clinging TREMENDOUSLY to the
police captain.
''Sure that's a puzzle tool' replied
Kennedy. "There was money on the car
the poor lady had drawn it at the bank
that morning, and carried it in her reti-
cule-but we found the reticule wide
open, and not a pound note WAS stolen.
1t wasn't theft the villains were after,
that's certain. It's more likely that they
wanted to be revenged on the poor lady
for some wrong she's done Them"
The eyes of the two men met, and the
same Thought seemed TO pass through
their minds nlultaneously.
You don't mean that! said the priest.
~ do, your reverence, answered the