The Sun. — 1842-12-29 (London, England)

THE LATE MURDER IN WHITECROSS-STREET.  The following particulars in connexion with this horrid crime explain in some degree the mysterious circumstances under which the death of Leary took place, and pending the investigation by the Coroner, will be read with interest. It appears that Meaghan, the man charged with being concerned in the murder of the deceased, is one of those tradesmen common in low and densely populated neighbourhoods, technically known as " shoe translators," whose business it is to purchase second-hand boots and shoes, and to restore them to a saleable condition, for the use of the humbler classes of the community. Meaghan carried on this occupation in an extensive way, and employed no less than six journeymen, all of whom boarded and lodged with their master, in Whitecross-street.  On Christmas-day (Sunday) all the men were invited to dine at home with the Aleaghans, and with one exception, that of John Rice, they appear to have done so. After dinner Leary (the deceased), Meaghan, his wife, and Catherine Singleton (his sister-in-law), left Whitecross-street to join a christening party at the house of a man named Regan, Meaghan's brother-in-law, who resides in Playhouse-yard, only a few paces distant from the scene of the murder, the other persons (with the exception of the old woman Cotter, who remained in the care of the house, and MeaFhan's infant child) going out at the same time. The afternoon seems to have been spent in the usual manner, and Leary left Regan's between eight and nine o'clock. Shortly after this Meaghan sent his wife out for some rum, which she returned with, and immediately after went out again. While absent on this occasion she went to Mrs. Darby's (the baker's wife), and knocking at her door, asked permission to pass through her apartment instead of opening the shop door, assigning as a reason that she thought the servant was asleep in the back parlour, and she did not wish to disturb her. Mrs. Darby at once consented, and Aleaghan's wife entered her husband's apartments. The parlours are divided by a thin partition only, and anything which is said in a loud tone on one side can be distinctly heard on the other. A very few minutes after Mrs. Meaghan had passed through she was heard by Mr. and Mrs. Darby to go through the shop, and, opening the door, let some person in. Nothing further transpired to attract Mr. Darby's attention, until about ten o'clock, when a loud knock was heard at the shop-door, arid immediately after Meaghan's voice, in an angry tone, in the back parlour. Mr. Darby, supposed that some quarrel had originated amongst them, and distinctly heard Meaghan, addressing some person, say, "If you don't get out, I'll kick you out." A scuffle then ensued, which ended in the alarm being given, as deposed to by the witnesses at the examination before Mr. Broughton, at Worship-street, on Monday. A most important fact was communicated to the reporter yesterday by the witness Rice—viz., that the deceased and Aleaghan had recently been at variance, and that Leary, after long consideration, had finally determined on leaving Meaghan's employ on Monday last, and had packed up his tools for that purpose on the previous Saturday. Pending the Coroner's inquiry, it would be improper to give publicity to the rumours circulated in the neighbourhood relative to the dreadful occurrence, but it may be stated that the general belief is that Meaghan's suspicion of his wife's fidelity, coupled with her sudden absence from the house of his brother-in-law, induced him to follow her home, and that some circumstance at present hidden hastened the catastrophe. Much dissatisfaction has been expressed at the delay which has taken place in holding the inquest. Leary is described as having been a very respectable and well conducted young mon. His father is a master shoemaker at Cork, in Ireland. Leary was only 26 years of age, and had been in Meaghan's employ six years. The body of Leary has been removed from the shop in the back parlour, and the house remains in the custody of the police.