Widnes Examiner. — 1884-09-13 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

THE MAAMTRASNA MURDERS: ASTOUNDING " REVELA. PIONS " BY INFORMERS.—AII extraordirary story, containing some astounding "revelations," is published in the Dublin Freeman's Journal of Saturday regarding the massacre ,of a family at alaamtrasna. Casey is alleged to have given a correspondent an account of the massacrealtating that there I were seven murderers, and not ten as stated at the trial. These were himself and Michael Casey, now undergoing penal servitude, Patrick Casey and Patrick Joyce, who were hanged, and three others whose names the correspondent declines to publish. Two of these—father and son—are still living in the district of the murders, and the other has gone to England. The father was the author of the massacre. He held the lamp while the family were murdered, and, the murderers having left without killing the old grandmother, be compelled them to slay her also. The two meetings at which the murder was planned were held at the house of this man, and Casey was present. He gave the names of the others present, and alleged that Myles Joyce, the man who was hanged, Philbin, the second informer, Tom Joyce, Martin Joyce, Pat Joyce, and John Casey, all undergoing penal servitude, were not at the scene of the murder at all. Asked who were Kelly and the persons supposed to have escaped, Casey said there were no such persons, and that these were false names for the father and son already mentioned. The author of the massscre mentioned is a wealthy farmer in the neighbourhood, Joyce, the murdered man, was alleged by this man to have attempted his life three times, and that he was determined to kill him, and leave no one behind him to tell the tale. He explains that the people selected were all relations by blood or connection by merriage, and this was for the she of safety. The son of this man, six weeks before any of the meetings were held, gave Casey £3. "I suspected," Cesey added, "that there was bad work to be done, but I wanted the money, and I took it, hoping to avoid the bad work afterwards." At a recent fair this son handed Casey £4, "because of all the trouble and sorrow that had been occasioned him." All this, he alleged, is we'l knowri in the district. At the murder the author of it had a revolver, and the man who is free in England had a dagger. It was, however, a hammer found in the honse by Pat Joyce that did most of the job. It was impossible for the Joyces, who brought. the murder home to the men hanged, to have tracked the assassins as they described at the trials, for the night was bright, and there was little covert for them. Philbin was allowed to mix with the witnegi Joyce at Kilmainham gaol, and they had time to make their tales coincide, although Philbin was not at the rgurder. Casey further asserted that Mr Bolton, the Crown Solicitor, said he would give £3OO for his information, and even up to £5OO and permission to leave the country. "I did intend," added Casey, "to leave the country last spring, but I would not have gone without giving to my priest a full statement of the truth." He said he did riot care what became of him if he obtained forgiveness from God and snarls all the atonement in his power. Be alleged that on their way to the murder Ina party called on a man named John Joyce, of Cruig, and I that he was called out to join them. He came out in his trousers and shirt, and pleaded that he had pains and could not go. Pat Joyce then covered him with his revolver and said" he would soon give him pains." "I then," says Casey," took hold of Pat Joyce and dragged him away. I told John Joyce to go in and go to bed and not mind. He did so." The correspondent says he left Casey with a vivid impression that he was telling the truth. Casey declared that he would tell everything above related on oath at a public investigation. Philbin, while in Casey's house, does not hesitate to confirm what he says. The _Freeman's Journal again presses for a public investigation.