The Sun. — 1846-08-15 (London, England)

MURDER THIRTY YEARS AGO. The following romantic narrative appears in the Kilkenny' Moderator:—" During the last week a circumstance was brought to light in this country, which in horrific interest vies with, if does not exceed, the celebrated case of Eugene Aram, nd requires but such another cordial fictionist as Sir ft. Bulwer to weave it into a tale most supassing in romantic kffect and tragical excitement. It appears that on Tuesday, the 4th inst., some labourers were engaged in removing a large heap of stones which had remained piled together, beyond the memory of man, in the demesne of Lossenarra, the residence of Mr. William Morrell Reades, when they discoveted concealed within the heap, the perfect skeleton of a man, whose flesh and clothes were entirely rotted away, with the exception of a pair of brogues that were upon the feet, and which are stated to be of a fashion and construction not in use for the last 25 years. On the following day an inquest was held on the remains at Kilmagannv, by Mr. T. hod, county coroner, when it appeared from the evidence of Dr. Peile that the deceased had been murderd by a blow inflicted on the skull. No ether positive testimony could be procured, but amongst the country people the extraordinary circumstances of the case are accounted tor as follows :—lt appeal s that about 30 years since, three men named Cornelius Cahill, his son John. and L—y were committed to our county gaol on a charge of being concerned in the burning of a farmhous-t. Cornelius Cahill escaped condemnation by becoming an approver, and, if the story of the peasantry be correct, his evidence actually hung his son, but L—y was acquitted for want of sufficient evidence. The tradition goes on further to state, that a man named Bratty, known by the ,obrigriet of ' the Tresher'—a Tipperary boy, who did occasional handy jobs' for the people of the district—had been engaged by the before-mentioned parties in burning the house. Shortly after the escape of old Cahill and L--y, he came to the neighbourhood for the purpose of demanding a reward previously promised to him by them for h 4 services. The hushed-up story amongst the peasantry at the time, and still well-remembered, was, that the parties having refused the reward, the man threatened to become King's evidence and hang them, whereupon they murdered him, and according to one report, burned his body in a limekiln, whilst another, and, as it now appears, more correct rumour, pointed su! the very place in which the skeleton has been now found, as the spot where the murdered remains were secreted. Old Cahill died some time since at the age of 100 years, but L—y is a small farmer, still living in the neighbourhood, and bears the character of having since the occurrence alluded to, conducted himself very properly. Strong, however, as the evid nee of tradition is upon the subject, it is not probable that sufficient tight will be thrown on this singular tragol to bear out furtier its resembluce to the case of Eugene Aram, by the bringing of the perpetrator of the deed to condign punishment. The verdict of the jury was That deceased was murdered a long time since by some person or persons unknown. That the injuries affecting life were a heavy fracture on the left temple, and the left nutter bone; and that the skeleton had shoes or brogues on, and was discovered under a heap of stones, on Tuesday last, on the demesne of Rossenarra in this county.' "