The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1887-09-16 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

NLI6- I TELLS:  Intelligence Lite been teecired h Dublin from Dinh; annoutining Ii d lii erste and deter attack upon the police, which bad reettit• it in one brutal murder and the elmost certain death of a second constable. The lateet despatch from E • states that a despei ate elfrity occurred near Liedoonverita, county Clare, letw.,ett a party of pollee and a number of moonlighters. A strong patrol of constabulary were out under the comulittal of Head-Constable Whelan, cud surprined a hotly of Meoelighters. The hea eailed upon them to surrender, but the sin, wi r awe a voi•ey from guile and revolvers. A desperate afire), followed, in the coulee af whieli Whelan was shot dead, and several of his comrades severely wounded. The Moonlighter, to • le flight, but several were captured with anus in their hands and were taken to the poice barracks. Another account, telegraphed trout Limerick, states that the police were apprised of rut intended raid on a mon named sextet), in the occupation of a boyoottel farm, and preparations were mid o acesitni -:gly. A. party of constabulary were rent to eroteot the house, the head °omits ble, who re-- iti plain clothes, remain. ing outside the j • •ess. The Moonlighters entered, and five of i. i were made prisoners, but on the police cont• ie out ide they wi re horrified to flint Whelan 1 :rig dead ill the field, his head and body all riddled with bullets and other wounds. Whelan was very popular in Ennis. He was married, and leave five ehildren. He bad twenty-two years service in the collatebulary, and the tidings of his murder produoed painful impression. Colonel Turner, R.A., and County Inspector Heard have proceeded to the spot to Dinka further inquiries. From information outside official sources, says a correspondent, I believe the following to be a true statement of the facts: It appears that a fanner named Sexton, who is also the owner in fee of the townland of Ballyastell, on wl•iell he reeides, came under the ban of the National League for letting a portion of the land from which the former tot-nut Fox had been evicted by Sexteri'm late tether. Sexton was boycotted, and received a threatening letter of the most atrocious character. He communicated with the authorities, who were on the alert, anti sent Head - constable Gerald Whelan, a higitly in elligent efticer, to Lisdoonvania, and entrusted to him .11.• °epeeist duty of afferdirig proteetion to S xten, and surprising, if possible, the Mounligh•iiig maraudere. He lett Euule on Fridey, awl was tast night in charge of a party of police who lay in aineuee outside S xtou'e house awaiting the attack. Five Moonlighters entered the house. They were quietly followed by the police, and a desperate hand-to-hand fight took place, in which three constables web ° seriously injured. The Moonlighters were overpewered, and two rifles, a revolver, and some multimillion taken from them. While these scenes were being eiiiteed inside Sexton's house* horrible tragedy °courted outside. The heed-constable did not go into the dwelling with hie men. He r. tuained outdde on the watch, when another Moonlight party swooped down upon him and in the most savage and ferocious manner battered his skull with stones. He leaves a wile and our oh !then, the youngest being en infant. 'the Moonlighters were young and mumcular men, and all appear to have been well armed. Most of the officer, have reoeived injuries more or I se severe ; all the prisoners were wounded, as it is cenfidently believed were those of their number alto effected their escape. An inquest on :lie body of Whelan has been held. The jury found diettli resulted from wounds inflicted by a party of men who attacked Sexton's premises. The men in euettaly are described as farmer's sons. •