Glasgow Courier. — 1854-11-14 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

MURDER IN IRELAND.  In the little village of Clare Morris, county Mayo. Ire. land, lived a young man of thrifty habits, named Maurice Prendergast, aged about twenty-three years of age. His father and uncle, who were both dead, had occupied the Position of collector of tolls and customs iu the village, the duties of which bad devolved upon hire. Hie uncle had also a son, some years the elder of Maurice, small, lik• him, in stature, but of wild disposition and unsteady habits When • youth, James Enaem Prendergast, in • drunken freak, mounted • wild horse, which threw him with great violence, causing an injury to his right leg, which left it bent under him, as i in a kneeling poeition, rendering it necessary that he should have • wooden leg. The cousins occupied separate cabins, but they remained on apparently good terms with each other. There continued. however, to be • marked difference in their modea of life, Maurice being sober and easing, while his cousin wm reckless, •iolent, and dissolute. For some time past it was known that Maurice was siring money, with the intention of •ini. paling to America, for the purpose of joining • relative who had gone out, and wm doing well in the country of his adoption. When, therefore, about • month ago, the Prendergasts euddenly disappeared from the village, no surprise was Cr ated, the belia being that they had gone out together. This belief had assumed all the force of conviction until • fortnight ago, when • sack, containing the trunk of • human body, the head slid legs having been severed from it, was fomid Hooting in • pond, or' pit,' • short distance from the prisoner's house. The sack contained several hem, stones, which had, no doubt, kept the horrible witness under water for some time. The discovery naturally created great esciternent in the village, which increased to. greater pitch when the pond was dragged and another bag, containing the ghastly head of the deceased, with the skull crushed, as if by the blow of • hatchet, was brought to the surface. A warrant was immediately obtained against the deceased.. cousin, and the inquiries of the police elicited the fan t that lie Ind left the neighbourhood about • fortnight previously, accompanied by a single +(onion, named Mary Connor, , whom parents live at Westport, and that their probable destination was Liverpool, whence they intended to emigrate to America. Police-const Able Atkinson, who had been for sonic years stationed at Clare Morris, and was therefore well acquainted n kb the Person of Prendergast, came to Liverpool; and after a close inquiry, Is which lie was mended by Head-coriatable connreted with the Irish Constabulary Force, he discovered that they had taken berths on board the William Tapscot t,rwhich took her departure on Sunday for Ziew-York; that Preudeig.ot,hninng a cripple, was afraid he would not be allowed to land in the Visited States; and that he had, therefore, been smuggled on board in • large Ism,as the luggage of Mary Connor. Armed with this intelligence, M'llale and Atkineon on Saturday morning went on board the William Tapecutt, lyiug in the river outward bound, where they ascertained that the man of whom they were iii quest had, • short time previously, in sil• his appearance on deck, being unable longer to remain shut up iA the lion, the procaution not haying been taken to make air-holes. He 11.0 been seined as ' stow-away,' and sent ashore in the steam-tug which had just left the ship. iii going through the vessel Atkinson recognised the young woman Colo.'', who was crying bitterly on deck, being under the impression that she would be compelled to alone. At the request of the officer • boat was manned, and they were rowed to the tog, on board of w loch they found Prendergast, whoni they charged with the murder. Ile maintained the greatest coolness, asserted thst lie knew nothing of the horrible event, and has since nmintained the almost indifference, smokiii4 his pipe with all the nonchalance of • man who has nought on his mind to give liiiu • moment's anxiety. The woman is •Iso in custody, and both she and the suspected murderer still be sent. as early as possible, to Ireland, in order to be forwarded to C:stlebar, where the examination will take Vence. It is supposed that the niursiered man wan robd of about /GO; but only Id was fouod upon the pri. sinner. lie had, however, been • fortnight in Liverpool, during which tinie he had spent a considerable sum in dimipation.