The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1887-09-17 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

MURDER BY MOONLIGHTERS.  A HEAD CONSTABLE KILLED.-CAPTIJRI3 OF THE ASSASSINS.  A terrible moonlighting affray took place on Sunday night near Lisloonvarna, county Cl e. According to a statement communicated by. one of the ccnstables who took part in the affair, e and seven comrades, under the command of H ad-constable Whelan, were placed on special duty inside the farmhouse of Thomas Sexton, the authorities having received private information that an attack would be made on the house on the Sunday night. Their information proved to be true, for about eleven o'clock the tramping of a body of men was heard, followed by a whispered consultation outside the louse. A few minutes later the moonlighters knocked loudly at the door and demanded admission. One of the constables pretended to parley with the intruders, thus lulling any suspicion which they might have entertained. At a sign from Head-constable Whelan the moonlighters were admitted and the door instantly closed and locked. Then for the first time the maranders realis.ed that they had fallen into a trap. Instantly they made a rush for the door, and at the same moment the police dashed at them and attempted to arrest the entire gang. A terrific struggle ensued. Policemen and moonlighters became so mixed up that neither side dared fire for fear of killing their comrades, although all the policemen and most of the moonlighters were armed with rifles' and some with revolvers. The combatants, therefore, used sticks, clubbed rifles, and chairs. In the middle of the fight the door was either unlocked or forced open, and three of the moonlighters managed to make their escape, although all were it is known, I badly wounded. The remainder of the gang, five in number, were secured after another furious struggle. I men, hand not till then, the police were able to ascertain the extent of their casualties. Head-constable Whelan lay on the ground dead, from a wound in the. head, caused apparently by some sharp instrument such as a spade. Another constable was found on the ground with his skull so battered that it is not probable that he can recover. Of the other constables, not one J.,caped without injury, and several were found to be very seriously wounded. The prisoners, all of whom were wounded, were handcuffed, and ultimately lodged in jail. According to an Ennis correspondent, Head-constable Whelan took no part in the fight inside the house, but remained on the watch outside. Whiht so engaged a second party of moonlighters unexpectedly came on the scene, and, seeing Whelan alone, attacked him and battered in his skull with stones. The murder accomplished, the second gang fled without making any attempt to assist their comrades :inside. Thomas Sexton, the farmer whose house was the scene of this terrible tragedy, came under the ban of the National League for letting land which he had inherited from his recently deceased father, and from which the former tenant bad been evicted. Sexton was boycotted, and subsequently received threatening letters. Head-constable Gerald Whelan, a highly intelligent and efficient officer, was entrusted with the duty of protecting Sexton's house, and left Ennis for that purpose on Friday last: He leaves a widow and four children, for whom much sympathy is expressed by all classes. Colonel Turner, resident magistrate, County-inspector Heard, and Inspector Otter have arrived at Lisdoonvarna, and have commenced an inquiry into the circumstances connected with Whelan'e murder. Reports from Millstreet, county Cork, state that moonlight raids took place in that district during the early hours of Sunday morning. The houses visited were near police-stations, but no arrests were made.  Ten persons who have been arrested in connection with the murder of Head-constable Whelan were lodged in Galway Gaol on Tuesday night.