The Sun. — 1854-09-26 (London, England)

SUSPECTED MURDER. The Cork Reporter has the following account of a frightful tragedy which has taken place near Cork, and which still continues involved in mystery : About 1 o'clock yesterday (Friday) the neighbourhood of the Mardyke was thrown into great excitement by the announcement that one of the dyke watchmen, named Michael Keating, bad been discovered in the garden back of the lodge, at the eastern end of the Dyke, with his throat cut. The deceased had been employed for some time by the corporation as day watchman on the Dyke, and while in that position had earned for himself the goodwill, both of the residents of the Dyke and of the citizens who frequented it, by the uniform steadiness of his conduct and the civility of this behaviour. In addition to his pay as watchman, Gs. a week, he received a pension of ls. 6d. a day, having been formerly in the 61st regiment, in which two sons of his are at present, so that he would have been enabled to live comfortably and happily, but for the bad conduct of his wife. It appears that she is a woman of very intemperate habits, and has often, to satisfy her craving for drink, taken and pledged her husband's clothes and furniture. She was also a woman of very violent temper, so much so that one of their sons, a lad only about 14 years of age, had left deem some time ago. The deceased was often obliged to bring her before the magistrates, to whom she mile solemn promises of reform, but always immediately 'relapsed again. The deceased was not seen sirme Thursday morning, until 10 o'clock yesterday, when the female servant of a house near the lodge, went into the place where he was found, for the purpose of spreading some clothes on a hedge, to dry. While doing so, she happened to east her eye near the spot, and saw the deceased, who was partly concealed by some bushes. She instantly raised an alarm, and in a few minutes a large number of persons had collected near the place. The deceased, when found, was lying on his back among some bushes, his hands were raised so as partly to cover his face, and were tiohtly clenched, and .stained with blood and gravel. His head was nearly severed from his body, the jugular vein being entirely divided* and the gash extending almost to the nape of the neck. About half a yard from where be lay was a large pool of blood, apparently that which had flowed from his throat, as if he had been afterwards moved. At first it was supposed that the unfortunate man had destroyed his own life, but on Constable Carey's arrival on the spot he found a razor, which bore every appearance of having been the weapon used in committing the dreadful deed, wrapped in a piece of newspaper by his side,. that circumstance at once induced a suspiciontebad met his death by other hands, as iitwd sufficient strengthas counted almost impossible that he could have retained inflicting so remaining part of fearful a wound on hisunpdeisnotncie lodge. The body was the newspaper was found in or consciousness to roll it up himTsehlef, after to the Bridewell, for the conveyed yesterday having an inquest held on it. The deceased and 60 years of wee stoutly built, apparently of ''ahrobust constitution, and was said to be of was between purpose veryof of having committed the act. Some of the chief picion temperate habits.. lldis wife is in custody on sae. irceur nces against her are that she had been heard v to threaten his life, and on Thursday evening, when the other watchman asked her if he was within, she refused to make any reply. scen:lst'l times