The Sun. — 1830-02-18 (London, England)

MURDER IN CARLOW, IRELAND.  (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) A murder of a veto atrocious nature has lately been committed at a place called Kiledmond, near Ragenalstown, in the county of Carlow, a county. which has for several years been unstained with any crimes of considerable magnitude, and our correspondent states that the particulars of the murder, although two persons (the supposed principals) base been committed to the county prison, charged with the crime, have not been published in any of ihe Irish uewepapers. It appears that about a fortnight or ten days einet,, the deceased, whose name erns Smith, a small farmer and shoemaker, about forty years of age, was discovered by one of his neighbours, on a part of his own land, called " the Croppy's Gap") so called from the shooting of everal of the insurgents there during the rebellion Of 1798), lying on his back, apparently lifeless; his skull was found to be deeply !met ured in one or tno places, and large heavy stones were /Awed on his breast and feet, as if to prevent his making any efforts to move homewards. The person who found him had him brought home, and the deceased, from the attentions which were paid him, recovered his speech, and hinted that he had received clothe unfair treatment, alluding in almost distinct terms fo wife, with whom for some time past be had treed living on rather unpleasant terms, ns the person whn had ill-used him. He shortly after desired this person to go for the clergyman, as he would communicate all he knew to him. His friend complied with his desire and left him, at the time apparently recovering from the effects of the wounds which had been inflicted upon him; on his return with the Red. Gentleman, Smith was found to be quite dead." An inquest was held on the body the following day before two Magistrates of the county (for it is singular that in • Carlow there is not a single coroner, while in other counties of Ireland there are found ' so many as eight), the circumstances above narrated were detailed at the inquisition,' and suspicion being in consequence excited against the wife, site was immediately apprehended. Hints were also given that she had a paramour, who it was suspected must have aided her in the perpetration of the murder. The name of the latter, a young man, was Styles, and he, too, was apprehended by the police. They were kept apart, when Styles confessed that he had perpetrated the murder at the instigation of the wife, and detailed the following particulars :—Mrs. Smith, he stated, had for a considerable time past been making efforts to induce him to murder her husband; he had a long time re• sisted, but she persisted in her incitements. She lied a short time before the perpetration of the crime purchased some powder, and urged him to ahnet the deceased ; this he had objected to on the ground that the noise which the shot would cause would discover the deed, as the neighbourhood in. which they resided was rather thickly inhabited. She hen decided on the plan of the murder which was subsequently acted upon. The night on which it took place, Mrs. Smith made her husband get up about midnight to look after his sheep. She followed cohafi.nrcii,oisiriinotnoarttoolstege:fieidrlruder,liragvnittlnh,f hire rom some trifling cause took hich sthteyrlee:, atnheanpgarTamalotuerr: attacked the deceased with a pitchfork, with which he gave him several blows on the head, and so severely beat him, that the iron part of the instrument was broken off. They then, thinking him dead, placed the stones on him, and left him in the field, as lie was found next morning. Styles further added, that his belief was, that while the person who went for the clergyman (all the parties were Protestants) was absent, Mrs. Smith finished the work of destruction.  On this confession the inquest returned a verdict of wilful murder against both parties, who were transmitted on the warrant to Carlow gaol, to abide their trial at the approaching assizes. It is said that since his committal Styles has denied all knowledge of the circumstances attending the death of Smith, and retracts the confession which he made before the Magistrate.