Widnes Examiner. — 1883-03-17 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

THE IRISH MURDERS.  ARREST OF A CRIMINAL IN ST. HELENS.  It appears that the rumours which have from time to time been in circulation that Irish detectives were prosecuting inquiries in St. Helens, have not been without foundation, and it now transpires that a man, who, by his own confession, has been implicated in one Irish murder, has been living for some time in this locality. John Walsh, who, as reported within the last few days, had been concerned in the murder of the young woman Esther Croughan, at Dist .town, near Mullingar, on the 31st December, 1881, and in connection with which it is stated he has turned informer, has up till quite recently been employed at Mesars. Kurtz' s chemical works in this town. On the sth Jan., it is stated, a member of the Royal Trish Constabulary,stationed at Mullingar, accompanied by a detective from Liverpool, came over to St. Helens and placed themselves in communication with Superintendent Johnston, chief of the local division of the county constabulary, their object being to ascertain the whereabouts of a person named John Walsh, who, it was believed, could give valuable information concerning the murder of Esther Croughan, at Irishtown, near Mullingar, on the 31st December, 1881. The local authorities took the matter in band, Inspector Wood being instructed to make inquiries. The inspector, who has been in the division 15 or 16 years, and has a thorough knowledge both of, the„town and its inhabitants, very quietly and .discreetly proceeded with his work, and eventually ascertained that a man bearing the name and answering the description of Walsh was working at Messrs. Kurtz's chemical works as a labourer, and residing with his I wife and three children, and several lodgers, at 71, Boltonstreet, Parr. This intelligence was at once foruarded by Superintendent Johnston to the Irish Detective Department, and the officer, whose name was Fitzgerald, again came over to St. Helens, and had an interview with Walsh. It is believed that at that interview Walsh confessed to being in possession of some knowledge that would throw light upon ' the tragedy, and consented to go back to Ireland as a witness, it being arranged that the journey should be undertaken ir. about a fortnight's time. This was done presumably to allow him to leave his situation in the ordinary manner, and get him away without attraceing undue attention to the circumstance, he having, it is said, "borne a good character," and had presented testimonials which he had obtained in Ireland when he applied for work. On the 9th ult, the officers came again, and Walsh, accompanied by his wife and three children, proceeded to Liverpool, and crossed to Ireland. Very few pecple knew of the circumstance, the house being kept on by one of the lodgers, who was given to understand that Walsh would be back in about a fortnight or a few weeks at the latest. Last week, however, the few " effects" left behind were packed up and forwarded by the St. Helens police to Ireland and the house turned over to the landlotd. Walsh, who had the appearance of a decent, hardworking man, came over to St. Helens at the beginning of January, immediately after the murder of the unfortunate girl, and soon found employment, no one suspecting that he had played any part in the terrible crime. The facts of the crime as they are reported to have been confessed by Walsh himself, are that he was employed by the murdered girl's sister, Jane Croughan, who promised to "pay him well" if he would do away with her sister Esther. Walsh undertook the job, , but did dot commit the actual murder himself. He employed a man named Lawrence Kenny (who is at present under a sentence of penal servitude for life for shooting at a soldier) and Michael Kane (who is in custody) for tLat purpose. On the morning of the mutder Kenny and Kane went to Croughan's house, and, whilst Kane watched outside, Kenny I went in and shot the murdered girl, afterwards throwing the revolver into a pond near by. ' According to Walsh's statement he lent the revolver with which the murder was committed to Kenny, and he further stated that he had lent the same weapon on a previous occasion to another man named Turrissy for the purpose, he believed, of committing a similar act.