Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1888-05-12 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

EXECUTION AT TRALEE.  James Kirby has been hanged in Tralee Gaol for the murder of Patrick Quiche, at Liscahane, near Ardfert, Kerry. Patrick Cournane, a youth who was also condemned to death for complicity in the same crime, had had his sentence commuted to penal servitude for life. Kirby was about 35 years of age, was married and had two children, and was a tenant farmer in a fairly comfortable position. Patrick Quirks was nearly 80; his daughter was married to Kirby's first cousin, and occupied a part of an adjoining farm. The latter was evicted for non-payment of rent, and went to America. The farm was vacant for a long time until April of last year, when Quirke redeemed the place for his grandchildren, who entered into possession. Quiche was immediately boycotted.. On the Bth of November he was called out of bed by a party of armed men, who fired the contents of a doublebarrelled breechloader into his thighs, and he died before either priest or doctor arrived. Cournane, Kirby's servant, was arrested the same day, and when in gaol he asked why Fox Kirby had not been arrested. Kirby and a half-witted boy named Buckley were arrested on the following Sunday, and several remands followed until December 10, when Garrett Kirby, Quiche's grandson, alone identified Kirby as having fired the shots, Cournane as being present, and Buoirittr-se. hewing celled for ids grandfather.  On the 22tid of NebrZary the prison.; were fully identified by Quirke's widow and the other grandson. They had beet afraid to give evidence, but were encouraged by the example of Norah Fitzmauriee. Berry was the executioner. Beyond a few women and children and police, the neighbourhood of the gaol was deserted. While being strapped Kirby said to those present, "I ain going before my God, and as sure as therC is a God in heaven I never I,ishdled a firearm or shot Patrick Quirke." The culprit ascended the steps calmly, and almost -assisted the hangman in the discharge of his duties, but said nothing whatever. Death was instantaneous. An inquest was afterwards held on the body of Kirby. The Governor of the gaol gave formal evidence or the execution. In reply to a juror, the Governor stated that Kirby, when about being pinioned, declared that he was innocent of the mdker. He left no written statement. The usual verdict was returned. Cournane, the other convict, who wet reprieved and taken to Dublin last week, while in the train leaving Tralee, said he was content to serve penal servitude for the part he had taken, and added that Kirby was not innocent.  • TIIERE is reason to believe (remarks The Hospital) that fair-haired women are at a slight discount in the matrimonial market. Statistics would seem to show that brditettes are more successful in obtaining husbands in the proportion of about three to two. Poets have a proverbial preference for fair hair; no poem is complete without a flaxen-haired maid; but prosaic moittils in search of a wife seem, upon the whole, to prefer the brown and the black. According to Dr. Ileddoe, the result of this " contnal selection" appears to be that in some parts of England fair hair is slowly disappearing, whilst dark hair is becoming more preya!ent.  P . ,